Over £3 million for money advice services in GP surgeries
GP practices in some of the most deprived communities will receive £3.17 million to fund dedicated welfare rights advisors to address growing mental health concerns caused by money and housing insecurity.
The national roll out has been a long time coming: Granton Information Centre led the very first partnership when they introduced a pioneering new service at Muirhouse Medical Group over ten years ago!
Dr John Budd of The Access Practice, a member of The Deep End network of GP surgeries in Scotland which cover the 100 most deprived patient populations, explained the benefits of the service when he addressed a Holyrood event held to celebrate Granton Information Centre’s pioneering work in 2018.
Dr. Budd told guests: “Around six years ago we became increasingly aware of the crippling nature of the welfare changes being introduced by the Westminster government. We produced a report about people’s experience of welfare change which received national media attention.
“What came out if that was a real sense of hopelessness – we felt our patients, often vulnerable, were increasingly being defeated by a system that was supposed to be there to help them. GPs felt helpless: patients were coming to see them with issues they couldn’t address. Poverty, increasing levels of homelessness, complex benefits issues – they couldn’t do the job they were trained to do.
“However the embedding of welfare rights workers into this bleak landscape has been such a bright spot. As members of our primary care team they have made such a fantastic difference, enabling people to navigate through the incredibly complex benefits system.
“Michelle (GIC’s Michelle Lee – Ed.) was with us at the Access Practice for four years, and she generated around £800,000 a year extra in due benefits – around £1000 per patient, which can make a huge difference to people who are often destitute.
“It’s been a fantastic development: it’s tragic that we still need this service, but it’s been a great benefit to our patients and we are so fortunate to have it. It’s a hugely effective way of enabling people to gain greater control of their lives through addressing poverty.”
Launching in September 2021, 150 GP Practices will be able to refer patients directly to an in-house welfare rights officer for advice on increasing income, social security eligibility, debt resolution, housing, and employability issues as well as helping with representation at tribunals.
The Welfare Advice and Health Partnerships will reduce pressure on GPs and primary care services – allowing them to focus on clinical care and treatment for patients while a dedicated advisor supports them to address their social and economic needs.
Since the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic GP practices have reported an increase in the number of patients citing money and housing worries for mental health issues. This funding will enable Welfare Advice and Health Partnerships to be formed as part of COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience plans.
The work will be delivered in collaboration with Public Health Scotland, The Scottish Public Health Network and the Improvement Service.
Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyone differently and further highlighted how vital it is to ensure support is in place for those who need it, including access to advice to help people overcome issues which are having a negative impact their mental health.
“Evidence has shown that money and welfare advisors in health centres reach people who do not engage with traditional advice services. This is the first time this approach will be delivered at a national scale, and I am sure it will make a difference to households as we focus on our recovery from this crisis.”
Deep End GP and former chair of the Royal College of Practitioners Scotland Dr Carey Lunan said: “This pandemic has shone a spotlight on health and social inequalities for some of our most vulnerable citizens, with the economic impacts being felt most by disadvantaged groups, who already live in precarious financial circumstances.
“Poverty is a fundamental cause of persisting health inequality and as we plan our recovery from COVID-19 we must ensure an appropriate focus on those with the greatest health and social needs, or these inequalities will simply worsen further. More financial security offers more choice, more control – and more hope.”
