A new project where social advice and information can be found at GP surgeries has recently been launched. Local leading advice charities, Citizens Advice Torridge and Citizens Advice South Hams, North, Mid and West Devon, are delighted to announce the new one year pilot project in West Devon which will be offering social support to patients.
Reports from areas of the UK suggest that it is not uncommon for around one in four GP patient appointments to be due to social rather than medical causes. Poverty, money, relationship, domestic violence and social isolation issues are just a few of the underlying factors that can lead to increased stress and anxiety in patients.
This project aims to help tackle underlying factors affecting patient well-being. By intervening at this early stage, this service will help to reduce patients from reaching a more critical stage of crisis, therefore reducing the demand on GP and NHS services.
West Devon Borough Council have funded the project, which means that the participating three surgeries in Yelverton, Lifton and Chagford, can now offer patients an appointment with an advice specialist in the surgery.
During the advice session, the advisor will use Citizens Advice’s diagnostic tools to help the client explore, identify and start to resolve problems that are causing stress and anxiety. Experienced advisors will integrate advice with recommendations for social activities to ensure the wider needs of patients are met. If this project proves to be a success, then there are plans to extend across Devon.
For more details about the project contact: janiemoor@southhamscab.org.uk