The third All-Island Social Prescribing Conference took place on 23rd & 24th June in Derry’s City Hotel with over 200 delegates from across the island of Ireland attending. The two-day event was addressed by Frank Feighan T.D., & Minister for State with the responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and National Drug Strategy and was brought to a close by MLA and Health Minister Robin Swann.
The conference ‘Social Prescribing: Celebrating and Sustaining Throughout the Island’ underlined the critical role of social prescribing services based in communities and highlighted the growth and development of social prescribing north and south, providing a forum for shared learning throughout the island of Ireland.
A vast number of speakers from both the Republic and Northern Ireland addressed by NI Mental Health Champion Siobhán O’Neill; Health Service Executive Helen Deely; Glynne Roberts from the Welsh Health Department; Martin Hayes from the NI Department of Health and a number of social prescribers and beneficiaries. Together they showcased the social prescribing landscape and the conference brought project managers, strategists, social prescribers and people who have received social prescriptions, together for the two-day event to discuss and discover how this innovative approach to health could be expanded.
Helen Deely, Assistant National Director for Health and Wellbeing Programmes was speaking at the conference and said:
“There are currently 31 HSE funded social prescribing services across the country. 19 of these sites are Sláintecare Healthy Communities sites based in areas of disadvantage across the country. All HSE funded social prescribing services are delivered in partnership with community and voluntary organisations. She added that Working together in partnership is the key to the development of social prescribing.”
The All-Ireland Social Prescribing Conference is organised by the All-Ireland Social Prescribing Network, an island-wide steering group that drives this innovative healthcare approach.
For more information on Social Prescribing and the All-Ireland Social Prescribing Network click HERE.