Health Programme

Citizens Advice on Prescription Liverpool is a social prescribing service available to health professionals working within primary and secondary care in Liverpool.

It is a treatment option that helps patients work towards debt reduction, financial stability, better housing and employment conditions, and reduced social isolation. It also provides a wellbeing service that aims to combat loneliness and isolation in our community.

We give a helping hand to patients whose circumstances make them vulnerable to mental distress.

This includes patients with:

long-term health problems or disabilities
people who are living with a diagnosis of cancer
people with acute respiratory conditions
parents of young children who are struggling to make ends meet
people who are unemployed or in low paid jobs
those who care for others but need support themselves

By providing this service we are able to reduce the number of patients presenting with problems that can be solved with practical support.

The service is made up of two linked but distinct parts:

Enhanced Citizens Advice Support, providing practical (anti-poverty) support to vulnerable patients on matters such as welfare benefits, debt and housing, and employment. See video (above right) for more information.
The Wellbeing Link Worker Service, a pathway to health-enhancing activities and community services, including confidence-building, training, volunteering and access to employment opportunities. Find out more about this service.  Our link workers meet with patients, and together, they create a personalised wellbeing plan – a plan that works for the individual. Patients are then linked to activities and services in their communities – services that reduce isolation and support them to lead their best lives.

We also offer dedicated support to the following priority health areas: 

Mental health
Respiratory conditions
Cancer support
Perinatal support

Referrals are simple for health professionals. Once authorised, referrers will be provided with a link to a desktop icon that reads. citizensadvice@NHSLiverpool.

Our team carries out an assessment within two working days (or sooner if necessary). Regular reports on outcomes and benefits relating to referrals are provided.