PATIENTS will now be able to pick up prescriptions from their doctor at the library.

Doctors are now prescribing books as well as pills to help people combat both physical and mental ailments.

Ian Anstice, from Winsford Library, said: “This means patients and their families will be able to learn more about their condition.

“Sometimes a problem is mental rather than physical so prescribing a pill is not always the best thing to do.

“Doctors prescribe a book from a list and then the patient brings the prescription to us to pick it up.”

Books on the list range from help with chronic pain and sexual problems to post traumatic stress and weight issues.

Ian said: “We don’t pry on people’s problems and they can just come here and pick up the book and no questions will be asked.

“But sometimes people want to talk about it and that’s great because very often we will know of a support group here that can help them further.”

Northwich Library manager Sandra Taubinger hopes the service will also offer patients peace of mind.

She said: “The books that the doctors provide have all been looked at by experts and considered to be reliable sources.

“I think it is often the problem that there is so much information out there that people don’t know what to trust.

“If someone wants to find out more about a condition they could go onto the internet but that information may be wrong because anyone can post something online.

“By getting a doctor to prescribe a book people can be assured they are getting the right advice.”