Social prescribing and system strategy discussed at April’s Integrated Care Partnership Board meeting
Social prescribing and system strategy were the key areas of discussion at the most recent meeting of the Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) Board.
Taking place on 21 April at Emersons Green Village Hall, Bristol, the meeting brought together around 25 colleagues from across the health, care and voluntary sectors.
Colin Bradbury, the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board’s Director of Strategy, Partnerships and Population, and Professor David Wynick, Director of Bristol Health Partners, led an update on the system strategy development.
The ICP Board published in December of last year a Strategic Framework, which said that our system will focus collectively on a few key areas at a time, rather than trying to do everything at once. The group were updated on the progress of work that is now underway to identify the initial list of three or four outcomes that the whole system can work together on, before moving on to the next round of agreed priorities.
The first edition of the strategy will be put forward for ICP Board approval on 16 June.
A number of colleagues from across the voluntary sector also joined the meeting to highlight the benefits of social prescribing, sharing how local services have supported a wide range of people across the area.
Social prescribing is a term used to describe non-clinical services that can help people with social, emotional or practical needs. It covers a number of activities from gardening and cookery, through to befriending and financial advice.
Alison Findlay, Lead Locality Partner, South Gloucestershire, said:
“Social prescribing has an important role to play in the development of our health and care system, and it was great to bring this to life at the ICP meeting. We know that people benefit vastly from social prescribing, both in terms of mental and physical wellbeing and it’s credit to so many agencies and voluntary groups that help to create this important network of support.”
The ICP Board meeting papers are available on the ICB website. The next meeting is due to take place on 16 June 2023, location to be confirmed.