AN EAST Hampshire social housing provider is to host a major health and housing conference, open to groups with an interest.
The Radian Housing and Southampton University conference aims to highlight the benefits of delivering non-medical support to the community through targeted social prescribing.
Social prescribing also known as ‘community referral’, refers patients with conditions such as social, emotional or practical needs to local, non-clinical services.
Often these services are provided as part of a partnership between the voluntary sector and GPs.
During the event provider and commissioning organisations will look at how those delivering health and housing can work together to fight illness and promote healthy living.
Radian Group chairman Carol Bode said: “The value of social prescribing cannot be underestimated. So much of what Radian does across our communities is focused on improving the health and wellbeing outcomes for our residents. Neighbourhood officers regularly signpost families and individuals to activities that offer them support whether it’s simply helping an elderly resident find a regular lunch club, to giving one to one advice to someone struggling in a difficult relationship, or trying to stop smoking.
“The work we do is often undertaken in isolation without regular GP contact. We feel that by working in collaboration with health and voluntary groups, we could significantly improve the levels of social prescribing.”
One of the key workshops taking place at the conference will focus on how to reduce the pressure on GPs and other health service providers through social prescription.
The Radian Health and Wellbeing Conference takes place on Monday, April 4 at the University of Southampton’s Nightingale Building, University Road, Southampton.
For more information go to http://www.radian.co.uk/health-housing-2016 or call 01730 403080.