Patients visiting a GP surgery could find themselves being prescribed befriending or volunteering opportunities under a new pilot.

Tuckswood Surgery, off Hall Road, Norwich, is testing how 'social prescriptions' can help patients who visit their GP but may not necessarily need medical help.

The surgery said a number of such patients come through its doors,with issues such as loneliness, unhealthy lifestyles, or housing problems.

For those patients, staff are prescribing help such as befriending, learning and volunteering opportunities, physical activity, parenting courses, and support for housing, debt, or employment issues.

This way the patients are helped to deal with problems they face and are supported to improve their wellbeing.

It is hoped the scheme will enable people to help themselves better, rather than just treating the symptoms.

Dr Tesh Patel, of Tuckswood Surgery, said: 'There is growing evidence that social prescribing is effective.

'Evidence from similar pilots in the UK suggests it can lead to real changes in people's lives.

'It is great to be part of this pilot in Norwich which looks at other ways of helping patients that does not involve medication or GP intervention.'

Tuckswood has linked up with Age UK Norwich and Community Action Norfolk (CAN) to help patients access those services, with CAN contributing a £5,000 grant towards the scheme.

Those two organisations both have a wide network of other local community providers, to which patients coming through the GP surgery's doors can be referred onwards.

As part of the pilot both Age UK and Community Action have representatives stationed at the surgery two days every week to see referred patients. And the scheme also incorporates Stonham Homestay, which provides intensive support for those at risk of losing their home.

Susan Ringwood, chief executive of Age UK Norwich, added: 'We know that being worried about your housing situation, or feeling isolated can have a direct effect on your health.

'Helping people to overcome these worries or to improve their sense of wellbeing will help prevent more serious health issues from developing.

'It makes sense to keep people as mentally and physically well as possible, and social prescribing has been proven to do that.'

Stonham Homestay also provide a 'digital health' coaching session which offers one-to-one online support for people to manage their long-term health condition.

The pilot, which will run until April, has been introduced as part of Norwich Clinical Commissioning Group's Health Norwich programme, which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of the city's residents.

Community groups given £7,000

Meanwhile, two community groups with green-fingered members have been awarded a total of £7,000 by Healthy Norwich.

The biggest amount (£5,000) has gone to The Conservation Volunteers to run an edible gardening project in Lakenham.

The remainder of the money (£2,000) has been given to Lakenham and Town Close Green Spaces (LTC), to help them transform local pockets of land and improve them as amenities for local people.

Both groups are comprised of volunteers.

Members of the LTC have spent the last three years trying to make the Town Close and Lakenham areas nicer places to live in by transforming green spaces such as Lakenham Way, Eagle Walk Play Area, and Jenny Lind Park.

The Conservation Volunteers will use some of the money given to help the LTC achieve this.

According to Norwich CCG, which runs Healthy Norwich, the grants have been awarded to the groups in recognition of the benefits to residents' wellbeing from living in a better environment, and the mental and physical benefits of working outside, meeting like-minded people, and doing something positive for the community.

Tracy Williams, chairman of Norwich CCG, said: 'We are really pleased to be able to support these two green initiatives.

'Both are innovative projects which will bring local communities together socially and have benefits in improving the green spaces in local areas for people to enjoy.'

To join the LTC call Pam Frost on 07904 584555 or email ltcgreenspaces@hotmail.co.uk

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