The Scottish Government has agreed to provide additional funding for community link workers in Glasgow, following a campaign by trailblazing GPs.
GPs at the Deep End – an organisation that has trailblazed the notion of link workers at Scotland’s most deprived practices – challenged a decision by Glasgow’s Health and Social Care Partnership to cut the number of link workers by at least one third.
Community link workers (CLWs) are based in GP surgeries across Scotland and offer patients help with housing, benefits, debt, food insecurity, fuel poverty, physical inactivity, loneliness, abuse and more when these impact on their health.
The partnership said the decision to cut the number of roles had been taken due to an ‘increasingly challenging environment’, with funding ‘not keeping pace with increasing demand for services’, but GPs at the Deep End argued CLWs are ‘an essential part of the primary care team’.
Following the campaign by GPs at the Deep End with other local organisations, which called on the Government to ensure sustained funding, ministers agreed to provide an addition £3.6 million of funding over three years to support the service in Glasgow.
Funding of £1.2m a year, on a recurring basis from 2024/25 was offered for three years ‘providing staff and practices with stability’, the Government said.
Health secretary Michael Matheson said: ‘This additional investment into community link workers, to address a funding gap identified by Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership, reinforces our commitment to narrowing health inequalities in the city by ensuring this valued element of primary care support continues to thrive.
‘GPs in the city have made very clear how much they depend upon community link workers to help them ensure that patients get the care and support they need.
‘I hope this decision brings peace of mind, not just to the staff whose posts were at risk, but for GPs, patients and communities who rely on this vital service.’
Dr Carey Lunan, chair of the Scottish Deep End project, said: ‘I’m delighted, and relieved, for our CLW colleagues and all the patients that they support and care for. Thank you to everyone who made this happen.’
A spokesperson for RCGP Scotland said: ‘We are delighted that the Scottish Government has now allocated funding to secure community link workers in Glasgow for the next three years.
‘Congratulations to all those who campaigned to protect these valued roles.’
Earlier this year, GPs at the Deep End shared concerns about the closure of a specialist GP practice for homeless people in Glasgow.
