We are delighted to have a Social Prescribing Service based here at the surgery for the exclusive use of Charlton patients. Farah has worked with us for over 2 and a half years and many of our patients show great appreciation to the help and guidance they have recieved.

What is Social Prescribing?

• A service that is embedded in your GP surgery alongside your GP and other practice staff, that aims to connect you to community services and activities that support your health & wellbeing using a therapeutic approach
• A confidential space to talk
• A space to explore issues that are negatively affecting your physical and mental health and overall wellbeing - those things that 'Matter To You'.
• Practical, helpful and non judgmental support
• A place to receive advice, guidance and advocacy Support to access services, support organization and community groups. Onward referral to these support services
• A service to improve hope for the future, social connection & independence

Social Prescribing is a holistic approach to promoting and improving your health and wellbeing. It is adapting a person centered approach with an ethos of "What matters to me".

Talk to reception, your nurse or GP and ask for a referral. Also any external organizations that you might be working with can also refer you to our service by contacting your local GP surgery.

What happens when I get referred to the Social Prescriber?

You will receive a phone call following receipt of your referral. When an available appointment becomes free you will be offered an assessment of between 45-60 minutes.

In this appointment we will explore your issues and what matters to you and devise an action plan together.

With approximately 6 sessions we hope to provide patients with the knowledge and tools to better promote self care.

It is important to be aware that people referred to this service can access the service when needed and can obtain multiple referrals if required.

• At a time when I found myself completely over whelmed by the death of my husband from Covid and the implications and the impact had on all the family, especially my sons it was good to be able to talk to someone who was so kind, caring and independent and grasped my situation. I am pleased to say I feel stronger, I have made many adjustments to my life over the last 2 1/2 years, in some part thanks to the help and support of Farah and social prescribing. Thank you very much for your help. Kind Regards - October 2023
• This service is a gem and Farah has given me a positive look in life and I’m happy to know that if  I need anything all I have to do is call. Thank you mean so much more than you know - September 2023
• I found it was very good and flexible with the appointment. Farah is a very lovely lady and she'd always greet you with a positive nature. She was helpful and understandable and clear. Over all I found Farah and the service she provided very good. Thank you - July 2023
• My visits to see Farah have been very helpful with overcoming the loss of my wife. I have been pointed in the  right direction for other helpful organisations where I have been able to talk about my loss. I am now at the point in my life where I am involving myself with the community in general which gives me less time to dwell on my bereavement - May 2023
• I requested a visit to the social prescriber, Farah. I must say she was of great help to me. She listened to my problem and seemed very interested in what I had to say. She made plans to help me and was thorough in her advice and actions. Since our appointments I have made big steps to address my problems and cannot thank Farah enough. I have also been told to make further contact should I need to - March 2023
• Farah has helped us enormously she has contacted people that I have been unable to access and the relevant people have responded. I thoroughly recommend Farah - February 2023
• I found the social prescribing with Farah extremely helpful. She's great to talk to and enabled me to identify my difficulties and work with me to find a solution. She's a great listener and helped the real me to find my way out of the muddle I was in emotionally and mentally. Thank you so much Farah. A great addition to the medical practice - December 2022
• Hi Farah, I just wanted to thank you for the service & all your help regarding my care going forwards. I would wholeheartedly endorse the service & especially you! - December 2022
• Farah has been exceedingly helpful and put us in touch with the appropriate agency who answered all our questions. Thank you to whoever set up this programme, in our minds it is a complete success. Many thanks - November 2022
• I have had four face-2-face meetings with Farah Siddiqui and found her help and understanding of my present health problems very good for me. Thanks for everything, I really appreciate everything you are doing for me. Thanks again - October 2022