The NHS Wellbeing Service - North Cumbria recently started a pilot for a patient self-referral service in Eden Primary Care Network (PCN) and Keswick and Solway PCN.
This self-referral pilot will run alongside the current processes in place and is great news for patients as it will provide them with more options of referral to the service.
The Wellbeing Service supports adults who are experiencing mild low mood and/or anxiety relating to living with a Long Term Health Condition or who are going through a recent life change (for example bereavement, retirement, menopause, divorce, moving house, loss of job etc.).
They do this through motivational coaching skills to support patients to think about areas in their life where they would like to see positive changes. They will look at all aspects of a person's health and wellbeing, an approach known as the biopsychosocial model. By using this approach patients are able to decide what is important to them and set goals to achieve and maintain the positive changes they would like to make.
They also offer social prescribing, which is where they provide information on services and organisations that can offer additional support to meet the patient goals identified.
Eden PCN practices involved in the initial pilot includes: Upper Eden Medical Practice, Shap Medical Practice, Appleby Medical Practice, Temple Sowerby Medical Practice and Glenridding Health Centre.
In Keswick and Solway PCN the practices in the pilot currently includes: Aspatria Medical Group, Castlehead Medical Centre and Caldbeck Surgery.
The Service is aiming to also begin self-referrals across the other surgeries in Eden and Keswick and Solway over the course of the next few months.
You can find out more about the NHS North Cumbria Wellbeing Service here.
