Exploring factors that influence the implementation of presurgical smoking cessation interventions: a cross-sectional survey.

As of 2025, at least 25 countries had introduced social prescribing (SP) at various levels (Khan , ). In England, NHS launched a national rollout in 2019, recruiting 3,000 link workers to deliver SP through GP practice-led Primary Care Networks (PCNs), each serving populations of 30,000–50,000 (NHS, ). This growing interest is underpinned by evidence suggesting that SP improves health and wellbeing (Pescheny ., ), with some support for its impact on mental health (Bickerdike ., ) and loneliness (Reinhardt ., ), despite methodological limitations. A qualitative review on loneliness and social isolation (Liebmann ., ) found that SP can enhance wellbeing and social connectedness but may also cause harm when there is a mismatch between patient needs and available resources. Economic evaluations show modest reductions in healthcare usage (Polley ., ), though some studies report increases (Elston ., ; Jones and Lynch, ). A large quasi-experimental study showed cost reductions (Wildman and Wildman, ). Several realist reviews have focused on how SP works rather than its outcomes, identifying key mechanisms such as social capital, trust, and belonging (Tierney ., ). Link workers can empower individuals to manage their wellbeing, but unintended consequences – like added pressure on GPs – have been noted. Husk . () found that alignment between referral expectations and delivery is critical to engagement.