"We have amazing services but people don't know how to navigate them"
Meet Newham's first A&E social prescriber, Rabia Begum and find out how her role has impacted our staff and patients.
Can you tell me a bit about yourself and how you got into this role?
I’ve always worked as a frontline worker. I started in a neonatal unit as a special care nurse, then moved a community nursery nurse role supporting under-5s and their families. But over time, I realised that many of the issues affecting children stemmed from challenges their parents faced—whether it was poverty, overcrowded housing, or mental health concerns. However, these adults weren’t accessing the support available to them.
When I discovered social prescribing, I knew this was exactly what I needed to do. We have amazing services, but many people don’t know they exist or how to navigate them. I worked in social prescribing within Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and GP practices for three years before moving into this current role at Newham Hospital, working in our Emergency Department. I wanted to see the other side—the people who are in crisis and can’t access their GP or know where to for help. Now, I play a part in their journey by giving them the information and assistance they need.
How has your role evolved over time?
When I first started, it was heavily focused on social prescribing—helping patients access services. But now, it’s much more about coordinating complex social cases to prevent unnecessary social admissions.
For example, we’ve had multiple cases where a patient is medically fit for discharge, but due to social issues like homelessness or lack of care arrangements, they remain in hospital. In such cases, I step in to liaise with social workers, supported living managers, and council representatives to ensure safe discharge planning. This prevents patients from staying in hospital longer than necessary, freeing up valuable resources.
Can you share an example of how social prescribing has directly impacted patients?
Absolutely. One area we’ve focused on is drug and alcohol dependency. Before I started, patients with alcohol-related issues were given an information leaflet about contacting Change, Grow, Live (CGL) for support. Almost no one followed up.
Now, whenever a patient comes in with alcohol dependency, they’re referred to me. I contact CGL on their behalf and help facilitate their engagement. This has resulted in a 50% increase in engagement. It’s because people in crisis don’t have the energy or resources to navigate these systems alone—they need someone to bridge that gap.
Another example is when I recently supported a 19-year-old who fled his family home due to domestic violence. He came to A&E because he was freezing and had nowhere else to go. He was medically fine, but he was scared and young. Culturally, he had ‘broken free’ from the abuse in his home and it took all his courage to leave. He didn’t have a plan B. I connected him with a day centre for homeless youth, followed up with him weekly, and within four weeks, he secured a two-year placement in supported accommodation with a team to support him. His entire future changed because someone took the time to listen and guide him through the system. Just by coming into A&E and being referred to me, he didn’t fall through the gaps.
Something that stuck with me is that he said: ‘Rabia I will never forget you’
How do patients typically respond to your support?
They are incredibly receptive. When someone is in crisis and walks through those doors, they are already asking for help so any help you offer they are really grateful for it. The smallest intervention—a referral, a check-in call—can be life-changing for them.
One patient had fallen through the cracks of the system and been homeless for over 20 years. When I asked if he had approached the homeless team, he said he wasn’t ‘in the system.’ I connected him with the homeless team, who helped him get a phone and a SIM card, and now he’s in the process of securing stable housing. It’s about making those critical connections that patients wouldn’t have been able to make alone.
What does the future of social prescribing look like for you?
Having been in this role for almost a year it’s great to see how everyone—doctors, pharmacists, medical teams— can see the value in having a dedicated social prescriber in A&E.
Now, it’s an established, well-recognised service. One doctor told me, ‘I can now think of cases holistically, which I never had the option to do before.’
I hope to see this service expand because social issues are just as critical as medical ones. If we don’t address the root causes—poverty, housing, mental health—patients will keep coming back to A&E. We need to treat the whole person, not just their symptoms.
I’m excited to continue building connections across services and departments within the hospital – if you want to join a future community integration meeting just get in touch!