The NHS has released its headline facts and figures for the past year. Figures showed that The Department for Health and Social Care spent £130.3 billion in 2018/19, compared to £130 billion in 2017/18.

The average cost of someone attending an urgent care centre and receiving the lowest level of support is around £45. For someone attending a major A&E department who receives more complex investigation and treatment, the average cost is around £400. In 2017/18, the average 9-minute GP consultation was estimated to cost £37.40.

Several studies have shown that social prescribing (looking at a patient’s symptoms holistically and prescribing social intervention) can help to alleviate the pressure on NHS services. Results from a social prescribing scheme launched in Rotherham showed a 20% reduction in the use of accident and emergency attendance over 12 months, as well as a similar reduction in outpatient appointments and inpatient admissions over the same period (Dayson, 2017).

Read the full expenditure report at kingsfund.org.uk/audio-video/key-facts-figures-nhs

What are your thoughts on social prescribing? Let us know by emailing us at lsheill@fht.org.uk.

Resources: 

Dayson (2017). Evaluation of the Rotherham Social Prescribing Pilot. Sheffield Hallam University