Written question WQ86780

A baseline study in 2021, by the Wales School of Social Prescribing Research (WSSPR), showed there had been a clear year on year increase in referrals and use of social prescribing over the preceding three years.

The findings from the study and other research into social prescribing; alongside expertise from our Ministerial Task and Finish Group; and engagement with almost 1,000 stakeholders; informed out our recent consultation exercise on a national framework for social prescribing.

The consultation exercise, which closed on the 20th of October, seeks to agree with stakeholders a Welsh model of social prescribing, to develop a common understanding of the language used to describe social prescribing and identify actions which embed the model through a national framework.

On 24th November, I chaired the Ministerial Task and Finish Group, that met to hear the initial findings from the 193 responses we received to the consultation. The Group will now further consider and develop a response to the consultation exercise, with a view to publishing the final framework and supporting action plan in Spring 2023.