This Thursday (14th March) is International Social Prescribing Day. To recognise this and to focus on the new GP Contract commitment to provide link workers in all primary care networks, we begin a short series of two podcasts. In the first, this week, Ben talks to Marie-Anne Essam a GP in Herts Valley and an enthusiastic ambassador for social prescribing. She explains what it is and tells a powerful story about a patient of hers which amply illustrates the value of social prescription. She also talks about the role of link workers including their salary, their competences and their likely backgrounds