The Wellbeing Prescription can help with being healthier, getting active, losing weight, eating well, stopping smoking, meeting new people, getting out and about or getting a load off your chest. The wellbeing advisor can also signpost and direct patients to other services available in the area. She can assist patients to stay independent at home, reduce alcohol consumption or offer support for carers.
A GP, receptionist or nurse can refer a patient into this service or the patient can self-refer. Clinics held with Alice Foster at North Holmwood Surgery 8am to 4pm on Thursdays. This is a pilot project that is being run through Mole Valley for a year. If it is successful we hope that funding will continue and it will become a permanent service for patients.
Our Wellbeing Advisor is called Alice Foster she is based at North Holmwood Surgery every Thursday from 8am-4pm
The Wellbeing Prescription service provides advice and support, with the aim of signposting patients onto the correct service for their individual needs. This can be in weight management, mental health, smoking, alcoholism, housing, social isolation and many other things.
· We offer a minimal 3 appointments with every patient with the offer of continued support especially for weight check-ups on the body analysis scales
· We spend time with clients to get to know them and discuss where to signpost them appropriately
· We keep up to date with services around the district, such as housing needs, local community groups, what’s on at local venues, and available support.
Some examples of the support provided by Wellbeing Advisors:
Mrs B wanted help losing weight so we put her on the scales and took a base line measurement. We then her advised on healthy eating and ways to be more active. She went from 85.5kg to 79.4kg losing 4% body fat and reducing her visceral fat from 8 to 6. Her muscle mass went from 47kg up to 49 kg.
Ideally we look to reduce fat levels and increase muscle levels so her overall metabolism is improved.
Mrs C Initially came in for some healthy eating advice but during the appointment she advised us that her father had moved in with them due to ill-health. We were able to give her details for East Surrey Carers Association and she has since been assessed and receives more help and support.
Mr D is illiterate and wanted help filling out forms which we have time to help with….We also signposted him to a local library as they hold free computer course for anyone with limited reading/writing skills. I put him on the taxi voucher scheme for his GP appointments.
Mrs E had emotional needs brought on by family situation and wanted to lose weight. So we used the scales and also referred her into IAPT via the online service which really helped her to focus her mind and to fit the sessions around her busy family life.
Patients can be referred by any member of staff or they can self-refer into this service.