Response to inquiry into alternative pathways into primary care
- Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
- Type: News Item
- Published: 17th February 2022
The ALLIANCE has responded to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee's inquiry into how people access primary care.
The ALLIANCE welcomes the opportunity to respond to the call for views on the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s inquiry into how people access primary care in Scotland.
There is significant potential to make greater use of so-called “alternative” pathways to health and reduce current pressures on general practice and improve people’s health and wellbeing. Our response highlights the positive impact of Community Links Practitioners and resources such as A Local Information System for Scotland (ALISS). Community Links Practitioners enable GPs to support people requiring medical assessment and advice, by supporting people and signposting them to support for a wider range of health and social care supports. ALISS helps people in Scotland find and share information about services, groups, activities and resources that help them live well. We believe that people should be able to easily access information about what is available in their community.
While we have used the language of “alternative pathways” throughout our response, the ALLIANCE suggests that Community Links Practitioners, allied health professionals and resources such as ALISS should not be seen as “alternative” pathways to healthcare and support. Rather, they should be seen as an integral and normal part of an interconnected health and social care system, following a House of Care model, which maximises the available options and control for people who require support.
You can read our full response below.
End of page.
You may also like:
The framework was developed by the Scottish Government with support from the ALLIANCE.
Continue readingHave your say on migraine care. SIGN is asking for feedback on its new plain language guideline. Share your views by 17 Nov 2025.
Continue readingAction for ME has opened its 2025 Big Survey, inviting people across the UK to share their experiences of living with CFS and ME.
Continue readingALLIANCE and Engender call for an intersectional and rights-based approach to underpin a national investigation into maternity services.
Continue readingDisability Equality Scotland want to hear from people living in Scotland with a disability or who provide support for a disabled person.
Continue readingThe Fore is opening an exciting new funding opportunity on 26 November for a week.
Continue readingThe response welcomes ambition of draft standards but identifies key gaps in inclusion and communication
Continue readingReport reveals inconsistent non-residential social care charging practices and calls for urgent reform to protect disabled peoples' rights
Continue readingSponsorships available from Vision Collaborative Scotland
Continue readingJoin SIGN's multidisciplinary group responsible for developing the updated guideline on management of leg ulcers
Continue readingJoining hundreds of organisations to defend the European Convention on Human Rights, because no one has human rights, unless we all do
Continue readingThe Civil Society Working Group on Incorporation - of which the ALLIANCE is a member - has three main asks.
Continue readingAbilityNet are this month's Digital Citizen Panel Spotlight
Continue readingJoin SCVO, Mhor Collective and Dr Tara French for the next phase of the Digital Inclusion Programme Learning Exchange.
Continue readingNew SignPort app and web platform now live
Continue readingTake part in a study to improve knowledge of Charles Bonnet Syndrome
Continue readingRevision of the standards will support delivery of the Diabetic Eye screening programme in Scotland
Continue readingEvery Tuesday the Discover Digital team at the ALLIANCE shares a free and trusted digital tool that supports health and wellbeing.
Continue readingThe UN Committee on the Rights of Disabled People wants to hear from disabled people that have been affected by violence.
Continue readingThe campaign seeks to modernise abortion law and protect reproductive rights in Scotland.
Continue readingFinal call for organisations to take part in research on mapping adult Vision Impairment services in Scotland
Continue readingMost respondents supported the principle of a balance between cross-cutting and condition-specific work.
Continue readingSave the Children and Joseph Rowntree Foundation have launched a new guide to support communicators speak about child poverty with impact.
Continue readingFuture Hospital Initiative event uniting carers, researchers & practitioners to share, connect & build a research-ready carers network.
Continue readingThe Digital Hub launched the new revised digital principles yesterday at their DiGiTal Get Together 2025 event
Continue reading