Dr Linzee-Gordon’s story
“I can't stress what a difference Link Workers make to the practice and local community.”
We have a Community Link Worker (CLW) in the practice who we will refer people to if we think they would benefit from their input – although I know lots more people would benefit from them too. The role of a Link Worker is to engage with people who may be socially isolated or are having difficulties with social issues such as accommodation or finances and help use resources available in the community to help with their care.
Our Link Worker, Martin, brings a wealth of knowledge about available local resources to help support people, as well as a better understanding of benefits and housing options among many other things. Martin also provides incredible pastoral support to the people he works with, who have nothing but wonderful things to say about him. From my point of view, he is a very useful person to be involved with someone who requires significant time investment.
I can’t stress what a difference Link Workers make to the practice and local community. I have not heard a single negative comment about our CLW. It helps to de-medicalise problems, bring in appropriate social management options and encourages more self-sufficiency within the local area. Martin also goes above and beyond – he helped one of the people he works with move house on his day off and was late for a practice social event because of it. One person has drawn pictures of him and calls him the sausage man (links worker), much to everyone’s amusement.
What I would like to see in the future – more Link Workers! The cutbacks to this vital service, I feel are a massive step backwards for the health service, and I think we need to increase the number of CLWs to help with more social prescribing and interaction amongst the community, as well as helping with the practical aspects of people’s lives that GPs can’t really help with.
Dr Linzee-Gordon’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.
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