Health together: How community resources can enhance clinical practice

摘要

Embedded in local communities and a trusted source of information, GPs are in a key position to encourage their patients to use non-clinical services that promote and maintain health and wellbeing. Participation in the arts and outdoor activities like gardening are known to be beneficial to mental health as highlighted in a recent article in this Journal.1 There are also myriad activities which can complement and enhance clinical treatment in primary care and benefit not only mental but physical health. The challenge for busy GPs and primary care practitioners is how to enable patients to access these activities given that they vary from place to place and over time. Knowing what is available, having assurance regarding quality, and having the time to explore options with patients requires local knowledge, time, and capacity which clinicians simply do not have.