Sheffield Social Prescribing Summit

Social prescribing is the term used by healthcare providers and the voluntary sector to define community based services to help improve health and well being. This Summit, hosted by VAS, shared information about best practice at a national and local level and raised awareness of the vital role the voluntary, community and faith sector can play. VAS is sharing the presentations from the speakers to help keep the conversation going.

Male health

The National Children’s Bureau has published two new reports addressing the issue of male health. The reports, entitled Improving Male Health for the Next Generation, present findings from NCB’s survey of men and focus groups with boys, about how men and boys approach their own health needs. The survey findings – for example, that over 90% of men felt that social expectations and how males talk about health need to change – suggest priorities for further investigation, whilst the report presenting boys’ views begins to address the gap in evidence of from this generation.

NHS vanguards

The first sites that will lead on transforming care for patients across England have been announced (Milton Keynes is not among them). The 29 sites, known as vanguards, will develop local services from April, to keep people well, and bring home care, mental health and community nursing, GP services and hospitals together for the first time since 1948.