After a call was put out in late-2018 for diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers to complete an exploratory survey about social prescribing, work is now ongoing to produce a framework.
The framework will support AHP active signposting and social prescribing, which will include four levels of AHP involvement:
- Active signposting
- AHP referral to link workers
- AHP as social prescriber
- AHP as provider
It is intended that work will be published on 18 July at the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer (CAHPO) conference.
Tracy O’Regan, professional officer clinical imaging and research, commented, “Thank you to all of the diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers who responded to the on the SCoR website.
“A total of 81 members responded from across the UK and, informed by the survey results, the Royal Society for Public Health are continuing to work to clarify and explore the ways in which AHPs can be involved in social prescribing.”
The survey demonstrated common perceptions, possible barriers and positive enablers to social prescribing across the AHP community.
A shared aspiration is to support patients beyond the traditional limits of healthcare, with referral to social prescribing services where needed.
SCoR involvement is ongoing with professional officer representation at meetings arranged by Royal Society for Public Health.
Tracy noted, “For those members who would like to learn more about social prescribing, an international conference is scheduled in London this year on 11 and 12 July with information available via a University of Westminster hosted website;The Social Prescribing Network”