General practitioners’ perspectives on social prescribing in primary care

Abstract Social prescribing (SP) connects primary care patients to non-medical community-based support services to improve their health and well-being. General practitioners (GPs) are central to initiating SP referrals, yet their engagement varies. This study examines GPs’ experiences, perspectives, and barriers to referring patients to SP services, particularly for support with healthy lifestyle behaviours. A cross-sectional survey was administered to GPs (N = 29) across Northern and Eastern Scotland. The survey assessed familiarity with SP, referral practices, perceived benefits, outcomes, and barriers to engagement. Quantitative responses were analysed descriptively, and open-ended responses thematically analysed. Most GPs (84.6%) viewed SP as a valuable complement to medical care, and 73.1% had referred patients to SP services. However, referral rates were modest, with 73.7% indicating they referred only 1-2 patients per month. Referrals were primarily made to address issues such as social isolation, emotional well-being, financial hardship and inadequate housing. Reported barriers included limited availability of community services, time constraints, and the absence of link practitioners (LPs) embedded within practices. Key facilitators included clearly defined referral pathways and strong collaboration with local LPs. While 80.7% of GPs acknowledged SP's potential to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours, referrals for such purposes remained low due to perceived uncertainties about LPs’ capabilities and gaps in community service provision for certain groups (e.g., older adults, low-income groups). While GPs acknowledge SP's benefits, engagement is hindered by structural and logistical barriers and the service is underutilised to support lifestyle behaviour change. Streamlining referral processes and enhancing awareness of SP's role in lifestyle interventions may improve uptake. Further research should focus on improving integration and scalability of SP within primary care. Key messages • GPs value social prescribing but face barriers like limited services, time pressures, and unclear referral pathways, reducing patient access. • Strengthening integration, referral systems, and awareness of social prescribing’s role in lifestyle change could boost its use in primary care.