Prescribing the Resolution of Conflict in General Practice
Prescribing the Resolution of Conflict in General Practice
BY VICTORIA HARRIS, PRACTICE NURSING
There are around 40 community mediation organisations in the UK, which support individuals experiencing conflict at home, in the workplace or with neighbours. Victoria Harris explains how GPs and a mediation service worked together in a pilot scheme to alleviate suffering.
There are around 40 community mediation organisations in the UK, which support individuals experiencing conflict at home, in the workplace or with neighbours.
Conflict and additional GP appointments
Conflict affects health. A GP surgery is often the first port of call when anxiety, depression or insomnia arising from conflict impacts wellbeing. The treatment for these conditions may alleviate symptoms but they do not get to the root cause. Conflict that is unresolved results in additional appointments and repeat prescriptions that arguably could be avoided through the social prescription of conflict resolution services.
Conflict resolution pilot scheme
The advent of social prescribing provides an opportunity for GPs to refer patients to these services for the benefit of both patients and general practice. At Mediation Hertfordshire, a community mediation organisation based in Hemel Hempstead, a pilot scheme funded by Herts Valley Clinical Commissioning Group proved this point.
