The NHS is to recruit an army of non-medical staff to assist GPs in dealing with the “scourges of modern life” from loneliness to mental illness, ministers have announced.

One thousand people will be hired to help direct patients to services such as community support groups in a bid to boost health and wellbeing as part of the health service's new long-term plan.

It is hoped that by 2023-24, the social prescribing link workers will handle around 900,000 patient appointments a year.

GPs have welcomed the plans which Health Secretary Matt Hancock said will result in a new "army of workers".

Around half of GP appointments are not directly related to medical conditions, NHS England said.

It said activities including history groups, and art or dance classes could help improve some people's wellbeing more than prescribing pills and other medical treatments.