Caerphilly-based housing association United Welsh has had its contract renewed to provide community wellbeing service on behalf of NHS Wales in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
The new 2018/19 year contract begun last month and is an extension of the Wellbeing 4U service that United Welsh launched in May 2016. The service helps take pressure off GPs.
Karen Tipple, Specialist Housing and Wellbeing Lead for United Welsh said: “As our team don’t have the same time constraints as GPs, we are able to offer a mixture of outreach, one-to-one work and signposting to community activities and the third sector while freeing up medical appointment time.
“The programmes of intervention which we establish alongside the patients can last as long as they are needed, from signposting people to wellbeing and community activities such as parenting courses and exercise options through to helping people with issues such as substance misuse or depression.
“Through the provision of specialist housing and support services, social landlords such as United Welsh have long provided opportunities to improve people’s health and capacity for self-care.
“Our partnership with the NHS is really important to us and we are delighted to have been re-awarded this contract to continue building the success of the service.”
Karen Pardy, GP and Community Director for South West Cardiff Cluster and Social Prescribing Lead for Cardiff and Vale Health Board said: “As a health board we are committed to caring for people and keeping them well and enabling patients to access help, advice and support within their local community can help with this.
“It is estimated that 20% of patients who present to their GP have underlying social problems and we want to do our best to help our patients in all aspects of their lives which impact on their health and wellbeing.
“Wellbeing 4U has helped us to support health and wellbeing through activities which promote physical exercise, healthy eating, and mental health as well as giving advice in social issues such as housing, benefits, employment and debt advice. This helps the individual achieve their goals and build community links and relationships to improve their mental and physical health.”