Whole Family Support Through General Practice: equality impact assessment

Key Findings

Scotland currently has the widest health inequalities in Western Europe and those living in the most deprived areas are being left even further behind across a wide range of health outcomes, but this is particularly striking in relation to mortality rates and healthy life expectancy. Since the early 2010s the trend for improving population health has stalled. Two recent reports by the Health Foundation concluded there is still an implementation gap between policy ambitions to address health inequalities and sustainable delivery of related interventions in Scotland.

It is well documented that health tends to be poorer in Glasgow than much of the rest of the country – even after controlling for socioeconomic deprivation – and this has been studied extensively. For instance, 30% of children in Glasgow are living in poverty, and Glasgow has below average life expectancy and above average absolute inequality in life expectancy compared to the rest of Scotland. This is why the Whole Family Support through General Practice investment is targeted in the Glasgow City area, where there is the deep, blanket deprivation and the majority of Scotland’s 100 most deprived practices or ‘Deep End’ practices. The 100 Deep End practices are defined on the basis of the percentage of the practice’s patients living in the 15% most deprived data zones.

Although the Whole Family Support through General Practice is targeted by socio-economic status, we found that it is likely to improve access to local community resources and services for some protected groups. Disabled people and ethnic minorities are more likely to experience health inequalities and barriers, and to be living in poverty and therefore reside in the areas of deprivation.

The open access nature of the project and it being based in the GP practice, offers a non-stigmatising space for families to talk through any issues and needs. Any family who is registered with the participating practice is eligible to access this support.

As noted in the record document, more women than men are the main care givers, therefore, more women than men are likely to receive support from this project, the support is not tailored specifically to women.

The service is person centred and led by the families. The service is being provided in GP practices and therefore less stigmatising for those seeking support. These findings will help officials to shape and refine the project moving forward.