Manchester

Manchester GPs can now ‘prescribe’ cost of living support to residents

"We really want to help before worries become a problem."

Emily Sergeant - 28th October 2026

GPs are now able to offer prescription-style support with the cost of living to residents in Manchester.

It’s no secret that the cost of living crisis has, unfortunately, been continuing to make itself known across the country for the past couple of years, and despite recent Government intervention in the form of new Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s series of ‘everyday fixes’, it sadly doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.

But now it’s been revealed that Greater Manchester residents can be ‘prescribed’ cost of living support when they visit their local GP.

For patients who patients need help with bills, debts, benefits, or affording food, GPs can now provide them with details of Manchester’s free cost of living advice line.

That means that, for anyone whose mental or physical health is being affected by financial worries, GPs can simply tear a page that contains all the details they need for the advice line from a block that looks like a prescription pad, and hand it to the patient.

Alternatively, the GP can also ‘refer’ the patient straight into the service online in a similar way to making a referral to a specialist or consultant.

Manchester City Council says this new move aims to help with treating the ‘whole’ person.

Once a resident makes contact with the free cost of living advice line – which started back in October 2022, and has helped thousands of people since – they can receive a wide range of advice on issues like energy costs and rent, to help with getting online, and so much more.

The Council also says that recent figures show there is an increasing number of calls or requests around help with rent or benefits and support with food or foodbanks, which is why it has chosen to introduce this ‘innovate’ move.

“We don’t want anyone to feel like they are becoming lost under competing financial pressures, worries about putting food on the table, or keeping a roof over their heads,” commented Cllr Tracey Rawlins, who is the Deputy Leader at Manchester City Council.

Read more:

• Andy Burnham to begin rolling out new ‘everyday fixes’ for Brits amid cost of living crisis
• Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
• More than 80% of Brits think the Government is badly handling the cost of living crisis

“We really want to help before worries become a problem,” she added. “The team on the advice line keep all information in confidence and they want to help.”

Featured Image – Vitaly Gariev (via Unsplash)