The latest annual report highlighting the work of Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership’s (HSCP) Health Improvement Team is now available.

The report provides an insight into the progress made by Health Improvement around improving health and reducing health inequalities during 2020/21. 

Progress is captured in relation to our Integration Joint Board’s (IJB) strategic priorities for health and social care including mental health, sexual health, financial inclusion, alcohol and drugs and much more. 

The report also highlights work that our Health Improvement staff have progressed in partnership with our local communities and our key partners in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Fiona Moss, our HSCP’s Head of Health Improvement and Equality, said: “This report captures the broad range of our business with others in the HSCP, partners and communities, and the programmes delivered for the wider health board area and gives us much to be proud of. COVID-19 has fundamentally affected what we have been able to do this year and has required us to work innovatively and responsively to meet the needs of local communities. 

“Our Health Improvement staff have worked exceptionally hard to adapt and sustain as many of these programmes as possible. We have dedicated this annual report to our two colleagues who died in service last year. Linda and Hazel-ann were fantastic colleagues and the report includes their work.  We miss them.”

Highlights include:

• the Glasgow City Youth Health Service (YHS) offers a range of clinical and non-clinical support for young people aged 12-19 years of age to secure positive outcomes for those engaging with the service. From 1 April 2020 - 31 March 2021 the total number referrals to the service was 739 compared with 508 the previous year.
   
• the Core Financial Inclusion Service supports community-based NHS staff to make direct referral for patients who have money worries to a range of dedicated Money Advice providers. NHS staff across the financial inclusion partnership made 4,610 referrals and 3,617 individual clients engaged with the service. Financial gains of almost £6.5 million were achieved for clients in 2020/21.
   
• the Compassionate Response Distress Service (CDRS) commenced with the in-hours service (supporting primary care referrals) opening in September 2020. Operated by Glasgow Association for Mental Health, the service provides a non-clinical, holistic response to people experiencing acute emotional distress. In the period to 31 March 2021, the in-hours service responded to 1,174 people with support provided up to one month. 

You can also watch our short film, which explains more about the annual report.