The rapid growth of social prescribing in England: analyses of primary care medical records using data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD)
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Objective
To understand the growth of social prescribing in primary care and the scale and equity of the roll-out
Design
Observation study
Setting
England
Participants
1.2 million patients from 1,736 practices in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink from 2009 to the end of 2023
Main outcome measures
Social prescribing discussions and referrals
Results
Since the start of the national roll-out of social prescribing in 2019, there has been a clear linear increase in social prescribing being coded within primary care records. As of the end of 2023, an estimated 9.5m GP consultations in England have involved social prescribing codes, and 5.6m consultations have specifically led to social prescribing referrals. In 2023, social prescribing referrals exceeded NHS targets by 26.7 to 51.1%, reflecting rapid adoption. In 2023, females constituted 60.4% of social prescribing patients and ethnic minority groups represented 21.7%. Representation from patients living in more deprived areas increased from 21.7% prior to the national roll-out to 42% in 2023. Service refusal declined from 22.2% to 10.6% between 2019 and 2023. Females and less deprived patients were less likely to decline referrals, risking reinforcing existing group disparities, while younger age groups (<30) exhibited high referral uptake despite their lower level of referrals.
Conclusions
Social prescribing has expanded rapidly in England, exceeding initial NHS targets and demonstrating the importance of the service. Progress is being made in reaching certain target groups such as more deprived communities. However, there are still disparities in accessibility and engagement, calling for targeted strategies and diverse referral pathways to fulfil social prescribing’s full potential.
