major new study has found patients living in England’s most deprived communities are significantly less likely to be offered ‘social prescribing’, an NHS scheme designed to connect people with community support such as exercise groups, debt advice, arts activities and social clubs.
Researchers from The University of Manchester analysed primary care records from more than 12 million NHS patients, and found referrals to social prescribing services were disproportionately concentrated among people living in less deprived areas.
The researchers warn that the findings raise concerns that a programme intended to reduce health inequalities may instead risk reinforcing them unless access improves in poorer communities.
The study examined data collected between 2019 and 2024 following the national rollout of NHS social prescribing link workers across England.
The study found that just 4% of patients in the dataset were offered social prescribing between 2019 and 2024
Patients living in the least deprived areas were significantly more likely to be offered social prescribing than those in the most deprived communities
Women were substantially more likely than men to be offered social prescribing and
Older patients and people with multiple long-term conditions were more likely to receive offers
More than three quarters of those offered social prescribing received a referral
Ethnic minority patients were generally as likely – or more likely – to accept referrals
Social prescribing schemes aim to support people whose health may be affected by wider social issues such as loneliness, poor housing, financial stress or isolation by linking them with non-medical community services through dedicated NHS link workers.
Clear inequalities
Patients in more affluent areas consistently had higher odds of being offered social prescribing than those in deprived areas, despite evidence that poorer communities often experience worse health outcomes and greater levels of long-term illness.
Women were also more likely to be offered referrals than men across almost every age group examined.
The study found strong links between long-term illness and social prescribing access, with patients suffering multiple health conditions far more likely to receive offers and referrals.
