Bolton Library and Museum Service meeting the challenge of GP Social Prescription ‘Who Cares? Health, well-‐being and museums’ is Renaissance North West’s programme aimed at demonstrating how museums make a significant contribution to the field of arts and health. Each museum is running its own project but it is conceived of as a single hub-‐ wide programme which builds on existing practice and shares practice as it emerges across the region. So what’s happening at Bolton Museum? Bolton Museum is working towards a targeted learning offer on the social prescribing register that will address mental health and wellbeing issues. North West Public Health Observatory, Health Profiles for 2008 show that Bolton has high levels of incapacity benefit due to mental illness. As Louise Bienkowska, Communities and Learning Team Leader says, “There is a really pressing need in Bolton to offer learning opportunities to targeted groups.” Social prescription is no small activity. Bolton NHS has 40 practices with approximately 200 GPs sharing a prescribing budget of £5,173,000 (The Changing Landscape for Prescribing in Primary Care, presentation, Dr David Millson, RCGP Prescribing Champion, April 2009). Social Prescribing is an umbrella phrase that refers to a framework of programmes that GP’s will be able to prescribe to patients. The range or menu of social prescribing programmes includes: arts on prescription, books on prescription, physical activity on prescription, learning on prescription and volunteering. The project at Bolton Museum arises out consultation with Bolton NHS and other health professionals. Using the skills and resources of Bolton Museum staff a 10 week arts and museum course will be designed and delivered. It is anticipated that bringing together museum collections, gallery spaces, and health and museum professionals will result in valuable experiences for participants. In addition, health and museum professionals will develop skills, experience and the confidence to ensure that the project becomes an offer that is sustainable. Working in partnership with the Primary Care Trust funded health workers and therapeutic practitioner the project will measure wellbeing improvements for participants. However, a key aim for Bolton Museum is to move beyond the project and into demonstrating that they can be a key delivery partner in the commissioning process. Museums operate in a climate where customer expectations are rising at the same time as a need for demonstrable efficiency savings and value for money, and likely cuts in non-‐ statutory services. A sharper focus on outcomes is leading to the reorientation of public services around a ’commissioning model‘. Bolton Museum is facing this challenge head on and taking the opportunity to develop their understanding of the health sector and expertise in partnerships with the health sector. Further Information:
Louise Bienkowska, Communities and Learning Team Leader, louise.bienkowska@bolton.gov.uk Arts Council England A Prospectus for Arts and Health (2007) http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/publication_archive/a-‐prospectus-‐for-‐arts-‐and-‐health/ North West Cultural Observatory, Culture and Health: building the evidence (2006) Who Cares? Health, well-‐being and museums’ programme contact Myna Trustram, Research Manager, Renaissance North West m.trustram@manchester.gov.uk