Green Health Pathways

Green Health Prescriptions offer you a pathway to link your patients to local Third Sector nature-based intervention delivery partners. The initiative aims to bring about a step change in the use of nature-based solutions to deliver health outcomes. Our partners are well established and offer a wide variety of activities suitable for many health conditions. All our partners have trained staff and volunteers as well as appropriate risk assessments in place.

The project offers links to:

• Supportive programmes such as health walks groups, environmental volunteering, community growing schemes or Friends of Parks groups. All of these provide gentle to moderate physical activity and a social blether.
• Nature-based interventions based on the use of the outdoors can support people with a range of physical or mental health issues. From physical activity sessions for people with cancer or type 2 diabetes to wilderness therapy programmes for mental health or addiction service users, connecting to green space can provide fun, motivation, inspiration and the restorative value of being in and being active in nature.

For more information on Green Health Prescriptions please visit the site or email greenhealth@dvva.scot

Physical Health

• Chronic Pain
• Strength
• Balance
• COPD

Help address chronic pain, strength and balance issues by taking part in gentle movements groups, electric tricycles and e-bike groups or walking groups.

Mental Health:

• Depression
• Anxiety

Give yourself headspace by getting some fresh air and relax!

Pre-existing Health Conditions:

• Diabetes type 2
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Cancer

Join-in to naturally feel better and take control of your health

Social Life

• Loneliness
• Social Isolation
• Bereavement

Meet likeminded people, have a friendly chat and a cup of tea!

House-bound patients be referred if they are able to engage in online activities Green Health Prescriptions link with DVVA’s One-Stop Shop for Frailty and Social Isolation, so patients with those needs can be referred and will be passed on internally.

Currently the service is open to Dundee-based patients only. However, if patients live outwith the Dundee area and are able to make their own travel arrangements, they can be referred in.

Unable to attend:

• People who are house-bound (online activities available)
• Unable to travel to the activity independently
• Unable to participate independently and do not have a carer
• Unable to walk very far from their homes, or reach a bus stop.

The initiative does offer some additional support to enable patients to take part: The GO Project Buddies can provided a volunteer to meet and join the patient during the activity for the first 1-3 times. This arrangement cannot be made permanent. A Dial-OP morning call can be arranged for a short welfare check and an appointment reminder.

Additional Referrals to Statutory / Third Sector partners, local organisations and agencies to help support the patient further.

Get started
Call:01382 305757
Text: 07719 696229
Email: greenhealth@dvva.scot

You do not need to be an accredited prescriber such as a doctor or a pharmacist. Anyone interacting with patients can issue Green Health Prescriptions, such as nurses, dieticians, OTs, AHPs, physiotherapists and more.

You can make a referral using either a paper-based or electronic Green Health Prescription. The prescription contains contact details for the patient to reach the Green Health Operator, who will hold a consultation in order to find a suitable nature-based intervention. Different to traditional referral pathways we allow the patient to choose their activity themselves, because allowing them to be in charge of their own health and doing something they enjoy to help them get better. We allow the patient 7 working days to contact us. If for any reason we have not been contacted we will make contact to get the conversation started. Following the consultation we will provide a recommendation of activities and identify any further support that might be needed to attend the sessions.

We are also able to update you on your patient's progress with relevant consent in place.

The Green Health Prescription website links to a number of sources outlining the relationship between the environment and human health and wellbeing.