General Information: Quick Links
How to access GSP?
The information on this page is for the Edinburgh and Midlothian areas in Scotland. Some details will be different in other places.
A GP or other practitioner working in a doctor’s surgery can suggest a green social prescription for a patient during a consultation. The GP might do this if they think the patient could benefit from it.
A patient can also ask about a prescription without having to wait for the GP to bring it up.
When offering a green social prescription, the GP and patient will have a short conversation about what kind of activity might work best. If the patient and GP agree that a green prescription might help, the GP provides the patient with a prescription. Depending on the discussion, the GP might do one of the following.
Recommend some type of activity that is based outdoors and can be done alone or in a group. For example, the prescription might be to take a short walk in a nearby park 2-3 times per week for the next 4 weeks.
Provide information about a local activity that could help the patient. For example, the GP might provide a phone number, leaflet or website address for a group providing outdoor activities in a community garden.
For patients who need extra help, a GP can make a referral to someone else at the practice, such as a link worker.
As with most prescriptions, the GP may ask a patient to book a follow-up appointment to see how it went.
If you think a green social prescription might help you, you can ask your GP for more information or help. You don’t have to wait for the GP to suggest it.
Many doctors’ surgeries have people known as “link workers” or well-being practitioners who can spend more time with patients to help them deal with a range of health problems or social issues.
