Prescribe art and cooking classes to beat loneliness, GPs urged

Lonely people could be prescribed cookery classes and art lessons on the NHS in a bid to tackle “one of the greatest public health challenges as our time”, Theresa May has announced.

GPs will be encouraged to refer patients to social activities and voluntary services instead of drug-based treatments as part of the new cross-party government strategy unveiled by the prime minister.

Postal workers will also check up on the elderly and socially isolated during their delivery rounds in a scheme being piloted in Liverpool, the seaside town of Whitby and New Malden in southwest London.

Ms May said £1.8m of new funding was being made available to tackle the problem of loneliness, which effects up to a fifth of UK adults.

The plans are inspired by the work of the late Labour MP Jo Cox, who set up a cross-party commission on the issue before she was shot dead by a far-right extremist in June 2016.

Ms May said: “Jo Cox was absolutely right to highlight the critical importance of this growing social injustice which sits alongside childhood obesity and mental wellbeing as one of the greatest public health challenges of our time.

“I was pleased to be able to support the Loneliness Commission set up in Jo’s name and I am determined to do everything possible to take forward its recommendations.

“This strategy is only the beginning of delivering a long and far reaching social change in our country – but it is a vital first step in a national mission to end loneliness in our lifetimes.”

Setting out a range of measures to tackle the problem, the prime minister confirmed £1.8m of funding would be used to increase the number of community spaces by creating new cafes, art spaces or gardens.

They include a partnership with the Royal Mail on a new scheme in Liverpool, New Malden and Whitby, which will see postal workers check up on lonely people as part of their usual delivery rounds.

Businesses including Sainsbury’s and Co-op have also signed up an “employer pledge” to tackle loneliness in the workplace.

Further measures include working towards a loneliness “policy test” for decisions by government departments, including the Department for Health and Social Care, the Ministry for Housing, Community and Local Government and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Pilot projects in five areas in England are to be set up to support volunteering activities for people with long-term health conditions.

Tracey Crouch, who was appointed as Minister for Loneliness in January, said: “Nobody should feel alone or be left with no one to turn to. Loneliness is a serious issue that affects people of all ages and backgrounds and it is right that we tackle it head on.

“Our Strategy sets out a powerful vision for addressing this generational challenge. By bringing together health services, businesses, local authorities, charities and community groups we will raise awareness of loneliness and help people build connections to lead happier and healthier lives.”

The Local Government Association (LGA) welcomed the announcement of the loneliness strategy but urged the prime minister to reverse cuts to council budgets.

Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the LGA’s community wellbeing board, said: “It is essential that these services which are already under pressure are able to cope with demand – £1.8m will not be enough to ensure these services can do that – so it’s essential they are fully resourced as well.

“With local authorities facing a £7.8bn overall shortfall by 2025, investing in community care and preventative public health initiatives that can support lonely people, and prevent loneliness from spiralling, has never been more essential.

“It is also essential that the government delivers more funding for essential services like social care and public health, in the upcoming budget.

“To maximise the cost effectiveness of loneliness initiatives and improve health and wellbeing, we urge government to reverse reductions to councils’ public health budgets and plug the funding gap facing adult social care which is set to exceed more than £3.5bn by 2025.”

Loneliness is said to cost UK employers £2.5bn a year but it has been estimated that the problem could be damaging the UK economy by £32bn annually, according to a report by the Jo Cox Loneliness Commission.

More than nine million adults say they are often or always lonely, with the elderly and people with disabilities being particularly affected. Around 200,000 people reported they had not had a conversation with a friend or relative in more than a month.

Three out of four GPs said up to five patients a day were coming in for an appointment mainly because they were lonely.

The new strategy will allow family doctors to use “social prescribing” to direct patients to community workers rather than relying on drug-based treatments.

Kim Leadbeater, Jo Cox’s sister, said: “I am delighted that the strategy for tackling loneliness is being launched today. The work on loneliness has been a hugely important part of Jo’s legacy and it is heartwarming to see how much progress has been made on the subject since her murder.

“It is excellent to see that loneliness is now firmly on the government’s agenda, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved in getting us to this point.

“The important thing now is to turn the dialogue and strategy into action; that is undoubtedly what Jo would want, and for every life that is made less lonely as a result of the work she started and that we have all continued, we will take great comfort. I look forward to this happening in the coming months and years.”