STR_03LeadingStructural Competence
Co-located welfare and health services – Integrate services such as Citizen’s Advice or housing support within GP practices.
Summary
Supporting information
Social determinants drive the majority of health inequalities, yet traditional healthcare struggles to address them. Co-locating welfare services within practices enables immediate support for the poverty, housing, and legal issues that undermine health.
Approaches to implementation:
- Map the most pressing social needs among your Focus Patients
- Approach relevant organisations about co-location partnerships
- Allocate appropriate space and establish clear referral pathways
- Develop information sharing agreements
- Train staff to recognise social welfare needs and signpost appropriately
Key benefits: Addresses root causes of poor health through integrated support, reducing crisis presentations and demonstrating how primary care can tackle wider determinants of health inequalities.
Resources
- Pathway - primary care for excluded groups
- Inclusion Health Action in General Practice - Evaluation Report
- Benefits of GP care in outreach settings for people experiencing homelessness (BJGP)
- Access to healthcare for street sex workers in the UK (see best practice table)
Links open on other organisations' websites.