Loving our neighbour: The role of faith for the future of the health service

One in five GP appointments are for non-medical reasons. At a time when demand for GP appointments is at an all-time high and the pressure on secondary services is overwhelming, Lord Darzi’s 2024 report stresses the need to prioritise neighbourhood level care, prevent ill-health and tackle health inequalities.

On 30 January ChurchWorks launched our research report, in partnership with Theos, into the role that churches and faith groups are already playing in social prescribing and the potential to increase the depth and breadth of their impact.

Social prescribing plays a vital role in providing practical support for people who are struggling with loneliness, low-level mental health conditions, caring responsibilities and financial issues such as debt.

Read our Senior Consultant Esther Platt’s reflection on the report in full here.