GPS urged to prescribe poetry and art

♦ GPS should prescribe art classes and poetry to patients with depression, strokes and chronic pain to boost health and well-being, MPS say.

A report calls for increased “social prescribing” to help patients recover from physical and mental health problems.

The All-party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing said doctors should be encouraged to refer patients to art classes and poetry workshops, making greater use of “arts-on-prescription” programmes to save the NHS money. One programme in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire resulted in GP consultation rates falling by 37 per cent and hospital admissions by 27 per cent among patients enrolled on the scheme.