Social prescribing - has anyone used the service?

The problem with social proscribing is it's implimented with a 1 size fits all aproch usualy which is no good for autistic people. You get geeks who spend all their time indoors gameing going to the GP and told to go to the hiking group when honestly a DVD watching club or LAN party club might have been a better fit. But they only have resorces to run one or 2 clubs.

The social prescriber doesn't run the clubs? They point you to existing groups.

The social prescriber doesn't run the clubs? They point you to existing groups.

I prefer to walk on myown, it's when I do my best thinking. I'm not allowed in gyms, or rather I'm only allowed to use the treadmill and exercise bike, and they don't really want me because they're worried about insurance liabilities because of my health problems. I hate gyms personally, they're loud, germ laden and smelly and have to many people and even worse competitive people. I've always thought 'why pay to walk on a treadmill, when I'd only have to go and walk the dog, and I can do that for free'. I used to love my skiing machine, but they don't seem to do them anymore, they seem to have been replaced with cross trainers, which I find difficult as I'm not co-ordinated enough and they just don't suit me. But each to thier own. I think for many people who are lonely and feel isolated then doing something like walking with a group can motivate them and they can drop in and out of conversations.

TheCatWoman said:

I think for many people getting out and about is what they need, if they're overweight, depressed and feeling isolated, then going out walking or gardening is a good way to meet people and make friends.

I found joining a gym has worked wonders for my health / weight. Taking the outdoors and groups out of the equation was the key. Give me an exercise machine anyday. For me exercise is a compleatly asocial thing. Trying to make it social just makes it supper akward.

Even when I used to do martial arts the only friends I made were the 3 girls at the club who happened to be into anime.

Oh thanks, I didn't know I could order the site to my choosing.

I had a look at the link, I know the place their always shut, I think they might have been the people who sent two women round to sit in my kitchen with a laptop and show me two smart phones I could buy in either tesco or argos, when I'd asked for help with digital stuff. I see they seem mostly app based, so I won't be using them.

Thanks for looking for me though, it may be that my GP's think I don't have a problem with going out and being active and doing stuff.

TheCatWoman said:

Like I said before though I don't think social prescribing exists here.

I think you’ve missed my reply to you yesterday.

It’s probably at the very bottom or top of this thread, depending on which way you have it ordered. 

Does social prescribing not depend on groups letting GP services know that they exist? I was given a self referal sheet for and ASC group allegedly on Anglesey, I sent it all off and had a snotty reply saying that they'd decided to reply to me despite my having the incorrect referal form, they'd only sent it my GP a few weeks before she gave it to me.

I think for many people getting out and about is what they need, if they're overweight, depressed and feeling isolated, then going out walking or gardening is a good way to meet people and make friends.

Like I said before though I don't think social prescribing exists here.

In which case what is the point of it? I've more faith in google than an NHS case worker to find local social groups.

I know in my area the GPs list a number of groups they refer to for social proscribing and they are all outdoorsy hiking / gardening type groups.