Dr Blane’s story

"They have become a vital part of the general practice team in Deep End practices."

The Community Link Worker programme is about recognising that health is shaped by much more than medical care. In areas of high socioeconomic deprivation, many people come to their GP with problems that are rooted in social circumstances – such as poor housing, low income, or social isolation – that can’t be solved with prescriptions. Community Link Workers (CLWs) help bridge that gap. They bring expertise in connecting people to community resources, building confidence, and addressing wider determinants of health. They have become a vital part of the general practice team in Deep End practices.

I’ve been involved with Community Link Workers through both research and clinical practice. Over the past 7 years, I’ve worked with two fantastic CLWs in two different Deep End GP practices (in Pollokshaws and Possilpark), where they have become trusted colleagues, offering time, skills, and knowledge that GPs don’t always have. They bring a way of working that is relationship based, flexible, and community oriented and that complements medical care. For practice teams, they ease some of the pressure by helping people with issues we know are important for their health but fall outside the traditional medical model.  They can also help to upskill practice teams, making them more community oriented, poverty aware, and trauma informed.

For the people they work with, the impact is often life-changing, though sometimes in small and steady ways rather than dramatic ones. Having someone listen, take their concerns seriously, and walk alongside them to access support can build trust and hope. I’ve seen people gain confidence, reduce isolation, and feel more in control of their lives. Over time, that translates into better wellbeing, less reliance on crisis services, and a stronger sense of connection to their community.

I’d like to see the programme embedded for the long term, with sustained investment and recognition that this is a core part of primary care in deprived areas. Community Link Workers need stability, training, and ongoing support, just like other health professionals. I’d also like to see more evaluation and sharing of learning, capturing not only individual stories but also the broader system impact, such as on reducing inequalities in access to care. In the future, it would be good to see every practice in Scotland, and especially those in areas of greatest need, having a Community Link Worker as part of the team.

Dr Blane’s story is part of the latest Humans of Scotland publication – Community Links Worker Edition. The book is available to read here.

Read all Humans of Scotland stories here.

End of page.