Minister visits Gorbals GP Practice to learn about impact of Community Link Workers

Alison Thewliss, MSP, Minister for Community Care, visited the Ker GP Practice in the Gorbals Health and Care Centre on 22 July, to learn more about the work of Glasgow City’s Community Link Worker (CLW) Programme and how it supports people across some of the city's most disadvantaged communities.

Community Link Workers are integral members of GP multidisciplinary teams, helping patients access support for a wide range of social issues that can impact their health and wellbeing. Their work focuses on tackling health inequalities linked to socio-economic challenges by connecting people with services and resources tailored to their individual practical, social and emotional needs.

The Community Link Worker Programme operates in 80 GP practices across Glasgow, with community link workers embedded in areas experiencing the highest levels of deprivation. In addition, three thematic Community Link Worker posts focus on supporting specific population groups, including people experiencing homelessness, asylum seekers and young people accessing mental health services.

The programme is delivered through a partnership approach. The dedicated Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP)'s Health Improvement Team commissions, monitors and supports the programme. The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) provides the main GP contract as well as the Homeless and Asylum thematic contracts.

During the visit, Ms Thewliss met with Community Link Workers, Glasgow City HSCP Health Improvement and Primary Care staff and the Ker Practice Manager. She was also joined by two GPs, a trainee GP, the practice Pharmacist and Fiona MacDonald from the Scottish Government's General Practice Policy Division within the Primary Care Directorate.

Nicola Bissett, Health Improvement Lead - Community Link Workers, said: 
“The visit provided an opportunity for staff to showcase the breadth of the programme’s work. Community Link Workers explained how they support patients through one-to-one interventions, group activities and initiatives designed to address gaps in local services.

“During 2025 to 2026, our Community Link Workers supported 13,082 patients through 44,395 appointments and made more than 41,000 onward referrals and connections to support services.”

Ms Thewliss heard examples of the diverse issues Community Link Workers help people navigate, including mental health concerns, housing problems, financial and benefits advice, social isolation, bereavement and support for those living with long-term health conditions.

GPs at Ker Practice spoke of the significant benefits Community Link Workers bring to primary care teams, highlighting the positive outcomes achieved for patients and the community-centred approach they provide.

Nicola continued: “We were delighted to share the work of the Glasgow City Community Link Worker Programme with Ms Thewliss and highlight the impact being made in communities such as the Gorbals. The programme demonstrates how Community Link Workers can have a positive impact on the lives of patients, families and whole communities.”