Since 2021, NHS Lanarkshire’s GP Community Link Workers (CLWs) have been connecting patients with their local communities in order to improve their health and well-being, and have now reached the milestone of delivering to over 10,000 people.
The CLW programme enhances the clinical care GP practice teams provide by ensuring patients experiencing social stressors are receiving support from a wide range of non-clinical services including housing and financial advice, social care, charities and community organisations.
Veronica Rainey, Associate Medical Director, said:
“The significant impact Community Link Workers make to patient’s lives is evident as the programme recently received it’s 10,000th referral from primary care.
“I’m delighted to mark this achievement by thanking each CLW for their incredible contribution towards the care we deliver in general practice.
“In my own role as a GP I understand that when I refer a patient to a Community Link Worker, the social factors that affect their health can be addressed via the support and interventions offered by the programme. This is crucial in ensuring we are providing holistic care for each of our patients that is tailored towards their own set of circumstances.”
CLWs work across all GP practices in Lanarkshire, providing face to face, phone or video call support to patients by listening to their goals and priorities and being guided by this in connecting each individual with support available out with primary care. This helps patients deal with issues regarding employment, education, social isolation, weight management, relationships and a wide variety of other factors that impact health.
