Stroud MP Dr Simon Opher is calling for a fresh look at how the places where we live can contribute to our health and wellbeing.
Dr Opher, a GP and long-standing advocate of social prescribing, says the natural environment and community spaces across the Stroud constituency could play an important role in helping people stay healthy, connected and well.
“I’ve devoted years of my life to advocating for social prescribing,” said Dr Opher.
“The arguments are well rehearsed and proven – better outcomes at lower cost and lots of what you might call ‘added value’ – other benefits for the community, environment, economy and so on.
“This weekend I started thinking about whether you could prescribe a place – and if so, across the Stroud constituency, what the local benefits might be.”
Dr Opher believes one of the most obvious benefits is the opportunity to spend time outdoors locally.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have so many beautiful, safe and interesting places to explore – rivers, canals, commons, woods, swimming pools and so on,” he said.
“Even light exercise is good for our hearts, bones, muscles and mental wellbeing. But there are also less tangible benefits – being in the open air, meeting people and simply getting out of the house.”
He says the same principle applies to the many small communities across the constituency, where local hubs provide opportunities for people to meet face-to-face.
“Then there are the many small communities, each with some sort of hub – shops, pubs, cafes, parks, libraries and so on, where day-to-day, face-to-face personal interactions happen.
“I’m a big believer in the importance of chatting. Those moments spent with a neighbour can reduce stress, boost our mental wellbeing, help lower blood pressure and strengthen the immune system, as well as reducing loneliness.”
Dr Opher says this is one of the reasons he is such a strong supporter of community ownership.
“People need places to meet and engage with one another – preferably where there is minimal, if any, commercial pressure,” he said.
“Community spaces are about much more than bricks and mortar. They can provide somewhere to belong, somewhere to meet people and somewhere to take part in the life of your community.”
Dr Opher has pioneered social prescribing in Gloucestershire, including the use of creative activities and green prescribing, and has continued to champion approaches that look beyond medication when addressing health and wellbeing.
His work has included initiatives such as Football on Prescription, which has given patients the opportunity to attend Forest Green Rovers matches as part of a social prescribing approach aimed at tackling isolation and poor mental health.
Now he believes the idea could be broadened further – by thinking about the places and communities that surround us as part of the prescription.
“There are few rural places in the country where there are communities as mixed as ours, where industrial history bumps up against modern business, innovative farming and artists and craftspeople who push the boundaries.
“We are lucky to live here.”
Dr Opher said the challenge was to recognise and protect the assets that make communities healthy places to live.
“If we know that connection, activity, nature and community are good for our health, then perhaps we should think much more carefully about how we support the places that make those things possible.
“Maybe sometimes the best prescription is not something you pick up from a pharmacy.
“Maybe it’s a place.”
