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Dr. Simon Opher MP MBE

Member of Parliament for Stroud

House of Commons

Dr Simon Opher MP, MBE – GP, MP for Stroud, and pioneer of social prescribing. Renowned for revolutionising healthcare through the integration of artists and creative arts into patient care—an approach now embedded in national NHS policy—his ARTlift programme in Gloucestershire provided arts-based interventions that significantly improved mental health, social connection, and long-term condition management. His work has spurred widespread adoption of creativity in healthcare, shaping the future of social prescribing and demonstrating that the arts are a powerful tool for recovery, resilience, and wellbeing.