SCOTS living in some of the most deprived communities in the country are set to benefit from an additional £1 million of funding to help tackle health inequalities.
The Inclusion Health Action in General Practice programme announced by First Minister Humza Yousaf provides targeted funding to help patients whose social circumstances have a negative impact on their health.
The money is allocated directly to practices which are in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) health board area and feature on the list of 100 most deprived practices in Scotland.
A total of 81 of the 100 poorest practices in Scotland sit in NHSGGC.
Yousaf announced the funding as he visited the New Gorbals Health Centre in Glasgow.
The First Minister said: “General practice is at the heart of our communities and is uniquely placed to deliver the care and support needed by patients who experience health inequalities.
“Of the 100 poorest practices in the whole of Scotland, shockingly 81 currently sit within the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board area – a statistic I am determined to change.
“This additional funding of £1m will build on the foundations of previous funding.
"At a time when the cost of living crisis is widening health inequalities, this is an important step that supports our commitments to prevention and early intervention with patients at highest risk of poor health.”
Inclusion Health Action in General Practice funding of £300,000 has already been provided in 2022/23 to general practices in NHSGGC with the highest levels of poverty and disadvantage.
Lorna Kelly, chair of the Primary Care Health Inequalities Development Group, said: “The NHS needs to be at its best where it is needed the most, or health inequalities will continue to worsen.
“This additional resource to general practices serving the most deprived communities in Scotland is therefore very welcome.”
