SOCIAL problems will be top of the agenda at the annual meeting of Witney's largest GP surgery on Saturday.

All 17,800 patients at the Windrush Medical Practice, on Welch Way, are invited to the yearly Patient Participation Group (PPG) meeting at 10am.

The theme is 'friendly folk' and will focus on community groups who offer support through regular events that aim to ease loneliness and boost activity levels.

Research by Citizens Advice shows family doctors spend 19 per cent of their time dealing with social problems such as employment, housing, relationship issues, loneliness and isolation, reducing the amount of treatment time for medical matters.

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The organisation's West Oxfordshire branch helped launch a four-year 'social prescribing' project called Community Connect last year, and the Windrush has recently signed up to take part.

Social prescribing sets out to tackle the problem by linking patients with non-medical sources of support such as local authorities, charities and community organisations like Age UK.

Following a GP referral, a patient meets up with a ‘community navigator’ to discuss their problems and identify the support they need.

Clare Chandler of Community Connect, West Oxfordshire, will be at Saturday's meeting to chat with guests about the initiative.

Leaflets containing details about a whole range of clubs, groups and activities will be available from 10am, along with tea and coffee.

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Several speakers will talk between 10.30 and 11.30am, including Bishop Bill Down, chairman of Windrush PPG.

Also among those speaking are the practice's senior GP partner Dr Stephen Smith, practice manager Morag Keen and practice nurse, sister Sue Hunter.