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This is the first in a series of case studies from the Cheshire and Merseyside VCFSE Health and Care Transformation Programme, showcasing how VCFSE organisations are supporting neighbourhood health. The series highlights the sector’s role in improving outcomes, reducing inequalities and supporting people earlier through trusted, community based approaches.
Across Cheshire and Merseyside, the VCFSE Health and Care Transformation Programme is supporting a shift towards neighbourhood health, with a focus on improving outcomes, reducing inequalities, and making best use of system resources.
Central to this approach is the role of the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector. Through trusted relationships, local knowledge and flexible delivery, VCFSE organisations are helping to address the wider determinants of health, support people earlier, and reduce pressure on statutory services.
This collection of case studies shows how that vision is being delivered in practice. From managing patient flow and preventing hospital admissions, to improving wellbeing and targeting support more effectively, they demonstrate the value of embedding VCFSE within neighbourhood health models.
Want the highlights Advice on Prescription of at a glance? The infographic below brings together the key outcomes, learning and impact from this case study.
What if a GP could refer someone for help with debt, housing, or income as easily as prescribing medication?
In Liverpool, that’s already happening and it’s improving wellbeing while reducing pressure on clinical services.
Across Liverpool, many people attending GP appointments are dealing with more than medical issues. Financial insecurity, poor housing, debt and legal challenges are driving poor health and repeated contact with services.
While clinicians see this every day, they do not always have the capacity or specialist knowledge to address these underlying causes.
Advice on Prescription, led by Citizens Advice Liverpool, provides a universal offer of welfare advice to anyone registered with a Liverpool GP.
By embedding welfare advisors into primary care pathways, patients can be quickly referred for support with:
This creates a consistent, accessible route into specialist support, delivered by trusted VCFSE organisations.
Independent evaluation by the University of Liverpool demonstrates the difference this approach makes.
Tracking outcomes for more than 500 people, the study found:
The service is particularly effective at reaching individuals and families with the highest levels of need, including those experiencing poverty, poor housing, and financial insecurity.
By supporting people at critical life stages and addressing the wider determinants of health, Advice on Prescription demonstrates what is possible when poverty is treated as a health issue rather than a separate social problem.
Advice on Prescription delivers both social and economic value.
The evaluation identified a Social Return on Investment of £3.40 to £4.69 for every £1 invested.
The service is also highly cost effective:
Alongside improving wellbeing, the model reduces pressure on primary care and mental health services by supporting people earlier and preventing issues from escalating.
This demonstrates how relatively small investments in VCFSE delivered early intervention can generate measurable value for both communities and the wider health system.
A key strength of the model is its approach to data and insight.
High-quality information is captured on presenting needs, income gains, housing outcomes, and wellbeing changes. This provides commissioners with a clear picture of demand across the city and demonstrates how social interventions contribute directly to health outcomes.
Strong partnerships between Citizens Advice Liverpool and local health teams also ensure seamless referral pathways and effective feedback loops.
Advice on Prescription shows how the VCFSE sector can play a central role in improving health outcomes and reducing pressure on services.
It demonstrates that welfare advice is not just additional support, but a core health intervention that delivers measurable impact and value.
This case study is just one example of how community led approaches can improve health and wellbeing. Explore our health creation work to learn more about the people, partnerships and programmes helping to create healthier communities across Cheshire and Merseyside.
