To celebrate National Social Prescribing Day 2025, which highlights the importance of connecting people to community resources and activities to improve health and well-being, we’re sharing details of the success of our pilot Wellness with WNO: Managing Persistent Pain Programme.
The six-week online singing and breathing programme has demonstrated substantial improvements for participants living with persistent pain. The evaluation report by Milestone Tweed reveals striking statistics:
- 67% improvement in pain and discomfort
- 67% improvement in anxiety and depression
- 69% enhanced health-related quality of life
What makes these results particularly impressive is the programme's high engagement rate, with 95% of participants continuing to use the breathing techniques and exercises after completing the programme.
June Evans, a programme participant from Powys, says: The programme has genuinely changed my life. Living with constant pain and exhaustion, I always feel better after attending a session. The gentle exercises and singing distract my mind from pain and stress, and the benefits last for days.
This testimonial underscores what healthcare professionals have increasingly recognised: creative interventions can complement traditional medical approaches immensely, offering additional avenues for relief. The programme's cost-effectiveness is particularly noteworthy. Each session costs approximately £12 per person per hour, compared to £34.30 for an NHS Band 7 Physiotherapist from Chronic Pain Services.
This centralised delivery model eliminates the need for individual health boards to establish costly programmes, aligning with NICE guidance while generating significant savings.
Owen Hughes, National Clinical Lead for Persistent Pain, NHS Wales said This partnership with WNO has been hugely successful. Feedback from participants has been fabulous with many telling us that being involved in the programme has been life changing.
Not only have they enjoyed learning to use breath and song to help manage their pain, but it has also given them confidence to socialise again. Several participants have said that they’ve gone on to join choirs and some are looking to return to work. The power of music and song has really made a difference to their lives.
The success of the Persistent Pain Programme pilot builds on our existing Wellness with WNO programme for individuals living with Long COVID, which has recently expanded its reach to include other long-term conditions such as ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, aligning with the Welsh Government's Adferiad (Recovery) programme.
Additionally, we are developing new social prescribing initiatives including:
- A programme for secondary school students experiencing anxiety and low confidence
- A partnership with Velindre Cancer Centre to support breathlessness
- A pilot programme for individuals in Supportive Care in partnership with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
A key strength of the programme is its accessibility. Sessions are delivered online in both English and Welsh, ensuring that individuals can join from the comfort of their own home to further support their symptoms, and without geographical location becoming a barrier.
Emma Flatley, Director of WNO Programmes and Engagement said: 'We're delighted to see the beneficial impact of the Wellness with WNO Persistent Pain Programme in this report. Its high engagement rates, cost efficiency, and transformative outcomes on individuals long-term health highlight its potential as a valuable intervention'
This National Social Prescribing Day, we’re proud to highlight this programme that hits all the right notes in helping people across Wales, demonstrating that sometimes the most effective medicine can come through the transformative power of music, community, and creative expression.