Links Project Report:developing the connections between general practices and their communities

The Links Project was established between October 2010 and May 2011. Staff in ten Scottish General Practices explored connections with their communities. Six of the practices were in areas of deprivation in Glasgow and four in different areas of Fife.


4. Aims

The aim of the project was to develop and test a sustainable local model to improve links between general practice and community support by signposting patients to local services.

The approach was to focus on rapid service improvement rather than produce a piece of research. The project was a discrete piece of work, designed to identify potential areas for further development and describe lessons which could be shared nationally.

The following issues are important but were beyond the scope of the project:

  • patient's views of being signposted
  • governance issues for proposed "link worker" (with a function of eg brokerage, advocacy and liaison between practices and communities)
  • community group's views of being on receiving end of signposting
  • benefit to patients
  • economic benefit to NHS
  • effect of signposting on sustaining / supporting community resources

Contact

Email: Tim Warren

Back to top