Social prescribing helped Despina Stylianou find her feet again after career loss (Image: NHS)
A wedding dress designer who was forced to give up her career after years of kneeling to pin hems took their toll has told how an NHS initiative “gave me my hope back”.
Despina Stylianou is one of 10.8million people who have benefited from personalised care – far exceeding a target to reach four million by March.
The model gives patients greater control over the way their care is planned and delivered based on what matters to them.
It covers elements beyond medical treatment such as use of personal health budgets to buy equipment, social prescribing, and support from health and wellbeing coaches.
Despina, who is in her early 50s, began suffering from pain in her hands and feet after decades of creating exquisite gowns. Forced to leave her job, she was hit hard by the loss of income and independence.
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Decades of working on wedding dresses took their toll for Despina (Image: Getty)
Her GP put her in touch with a social prescribing link worker at Fairlop Primary Care Network in Chigwell, Essex.
After listening to the grandmother-of-three’s priorities, the worker suggested she applied for a nursery worker training scheme.
Despina completed a four-day trial working with babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers – and has never looked back. She said: “It’s completely different from anything I have ever done and I thought it was great.
“I don’t think I would have thought of it if this trial hadn’t been. I can see a whole new career ahead of me now. It has given me my hope back.”
Almost 2.7million people have been referred to social prescribing since 2019. The approach aims to address wider determinants of health – such as housing, poverty, digital inclusion, loneliness and isolation – by directing patients to non-clinical services.
Other examples include volunteering, arts or gardening clubs, cookery classes, or sports groups.
Social prescribing helps people find groups and services in their community (Image: Getty)
Dr Jagan John, a GP based in north-east London, said: “Despina is one of thousands of people across London who have benefited from social prescribing.
“It’s so important to look at a person’s wider needs, not just their medical ones, because so many other factors like unemployment, debt or things like unsuitable housing can have a massive impact on people’s health and wellbeing.
“This is so important given the current cost-of-living crisis. I’m proud to be supporting the roll out of social prescribing.”
The NHS Long Term Plan in 2019 set a target for 2.5million people to benefit from personalised care by 2023-24.
This was increased to four million in 2022 following strong progress – and the total has now vastly exceeded this to reach 10.8million.
Other types of help include health and wellbeing coaches to support people with long-term conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety and Type 2 diabetes.
The NHS said it is also on track to meet a target of 200,000 people having received a personal health budget by 2023-24.
James Sanderson, director for community services at NHS England, said: “It is fantastic news that the NHS has improved the lives of more than 10million people across England by supporting them to access personalised care support – exceeding our original 2.5million target.
“Personalised care is targeted towards improving individuals’ skills, knowledge and confidence to enable them to live well with long term conditions, giving them choice and control over their care based on what matters to them.
“This important milestone has been made possible thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of local NHS teams who have rolled-out personalised care and driven take-up across the country, ensuring millions more patients have received the care and support they need.”
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, said delivering personalised care was “at the heart of general practice”.
She added: “This encouraging news is testament to the hard work of GPs and our teams, as well as colleagues across the NHS, in really challenging circumstances.
“Treating patients holistically, taking into account all the physical, psychological and social factors potentially impacting on their health when making a diagnosis and formulating a treatment plan, is key to building trusting relationships, which are highly-valued by doctors and patients alike.”
Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, also welcomed the news. She said: “We know it enables them to actively make decisions about their care, supported by the healthcare professionals looking after them.
“Working this way improves outcomes leading to a better patient experience and well-being.”