Webinar - From Evidence to Practice: Advancing Social Prescribing in Scandinavia

What is social prescribing – and why does it matter?
Many people visit their GP – often repeatedly – with physical symptoms that do not stem from an underlying medical condition but from stress, social isolation, or loneliness. These patients may undergo numerous tests, and when no medical cause is identified, they might be prescribed medication or left without clear guidance. Social prescribing offers an alternative. It provides primary care professionals with a structured way to connect individuals to community-based activities, services, and forms of support that can better address the root causes of their distress.

Social prescribing is an umbrella term for approaches that can link people to social, cultural, and practical resources in their local community, recognising that health is shaped by more than clinical care. Effective social prescribing relies on strong local infrastructure and close collaboration among individuals, health and social care providers, and community organisations.

Participation in the webinar is free of charge, registration is required. The webinar will be held in English.

Programme

11:00-11:05 Welcome and Opening Remarks
Susanna Althini, GP board member of the : Swedish Association of General Practice (SFAM)

Social prescribing - What and Why

11.05-11.20 From vision to practice
Sam Everington, British GP and one of the key pioneers of social prescribing

11.20-11.35 A Delphi Study -What is Social Prescribing? 
Findings from an international study establishing an universal SP definition
Caitlin Muhl, PhD, Canada

11.35-11:45 Social Prescribing across the Region of Sweden – an overview of the mapping and next steps 
Hillevi Busch, PhD Psychology, Public Health Agency of Sweden

11:45–12.00 UK and global social prescribing initiatives
Charlotte Osborn-Forde, Chief Executive of the National Academy for Social Prescribing in the UK and championing social prescribing around the world

12.00-12.10 Social Prescribing: Challenges and Concerns
Andreas Stomby, Associate Professor, GP, Chair of SFAM (Swedish Association of General Practice)

12.10-12.30 Roundtable discussion including questions from the audience
Susanna Althini (moderator)
Speakers: Sam Everington, Hillevi Busch, Charlotte Osborn-Forde, Andreas Stomby

12:30-13.00 Lunch Break

Social Prescribing – How?

13.00-13.15 Social health collaboration - Swedish,  European and Global Perspectives
Christian Altenius, Swedish National Network to Stop Involuntary loneliness.

13.15-13.30 Social prescribing and health-related social needs in Norway
Tobba Sudmann, Physiotherapist, Medical Sociologist, Professor of Public Health, Norway.

13.30-13.45 Social Prescribing and Civic Engagement: Green Space for cancer survivors
Joyce Kenkre Emerita, Professor of Primary Care, UK, Chair of WONCA Europe Special Interest Group on Social Prescribing and Community Orientation

13.45-13.55 What is a link worker? A Delphi study on social prescribing 
Ferdinando Petrazzuoli GP, Associate Professor, Italy, Executive Board member, WONCA Europe Special Interest Group on Social Prescribing and Community Orientation.

13.55-14.10 Social Prescribing in different Healthcare Settings 
Daniela Rojatz, PhD, Sociologist, Austrian National Public Health Institute

14.10-14.25 Implementation of Social Prescribing in Copenhagen, and the arts as a social prescription
Claus Rendtorff GP, Associate Professor, council member DK EQuiP, WONCA and
Millie Kealy-Jensen, Public Health Consultant, Denmark

14.25-14.40 Arts on prescription, examples of social prescription in Sweden, models and results
Paula Bergman, PhD, strategist, Region Jönköping County.
Anita Jensen, Associate Professor, process leader Region Skåne

14:40-14:55 Open plenary  including questions from the audience
Margareta Kristenson Professor Emerita social and preventive medicine, Sweden (moderator)
Panelists: Joyce Kenkre, Daniela Rojatz, Caitlin Muhl, Ferdinando Petrazzuoli, Claus Rendtorff, Millie Kealy-Jensen,  Paula Bergman, Anita Jensen

14.55-15.00 Closing Remarks & Farewell and upcoming conferences
Next conference: Hybrid conference from Jönköping, Sweden, 2–3 December 2026
Hans Thulesius, GP, senior professor general practice, Sweden

For more information, please visit: https://www.sls.se/sls/aktuellt/kalendarium/webbinar-social-forskrivning