SAMH announce Aberdeen city GP Link Worker resource

22nd January 2018

SAMH has been awarded a contract by Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnerships (ACHSCP) to deliver a GP ‘Link Worker’ resource to the city over the next two years.

Approximately 2,400 people are seen by a GP every day in Aberdeen City. The contract will see 20 full-time equivalent Link Workers attached to 30 General Practices across the city.  

SAMH already has experience providing a ground-breaking Glasgow Link Worker pilot in North Lanarkshire. 

This new service will draw on SAMH’s expertise; providing a customised approach to each GP Practice with each link worker having an area of focus, such as education or older people’s services.

Billy Watson, Chief Executive, SAMH said:

“This new Link Worker service is great news for the people of Aberdeen which will see patients who are seeking help and support in their GP surgery gain quicker access to a wider range of community support and resources which hopefully will lead to improved outcomes for people.

“SAMH is delighted to be working with Aberdeen Health and Social Care Partnership in delivering this innovative new programme.  

“Aberdeen HSCP is taking a significant lead in this area, creating the largest Link Worker programme of its kind in Scotland by ensuring every GP practice in Aberdeen will have access to a Link Worker.  

“We look forward to working with GPs, patients and the wider community to bring the link worker programme to fruition.”