NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is using this week to highlight the Primary Care Strategy, which sets out a vision for how people across the region can access the right care, in the right place, at the right time. The strategy outlines how Primary Care services, including GP practices, community pharmacies, dental practices, optometry, and wider multidisciplinary teams, continue to evolve to meet changing population needs.
Primary Care is the “front door” to the NHS for more than 1.3 million people across Greater Glasgow and Clyde. As demand grows and people’s needs become more complex, the strategy focuses on improving access, enhancing prevention and early intervention, strengthening collaboration across services, and reducing inequalities in how people engage with the healthcare system.
The NHS GGC Primary Care Strategy 2024–2029 adopts a whole‑system approach developed through extensive collaboration with patients and staff across general practice, pharmacy, dental and optometry settings. Key priorities include:
- Optimising the Primary Care workforce, ensuring teams have the skills, support and digital tools they need.
- Digitally enabled care, making it easier for people to access advice and clinical support.
- Integration and interfacing, improving links between Primary Care and wider NHS services to support smoother referrals and faster access to specialist advice.
- Strengthening communication, access and engagement, helping people understand what support is available, how to use services appropriately, and how to manage their own health with confidence.
The week is focused on improving public understanding of Primary Care, what it is, how it works, and the range of professionals involved. This forms part of NHSGGC’s wider commitment to supporting people to stay well through early intervention, self‑care resources, and improved signposting.
Another key aim of the strategy is to help people navigate services more easily, ensuring they can access the right support without unnecessary delays, while reducing pressure on urgent and emergency care. That is why a new Primary Care Hub has been created on the NHSGGC website, making it easy to find all Primary Care information in one place (www.nhsggc.scot/PrimaryCare).
Fraser McJannett, Director of Primary Care, NHSGGC, said: “Primary Care is at the heart of our health system. The strategy reaffirms our commitment to providing clear, accessible and high‑quality care close to home. By working together across GP practices, pharmacies, dental and optometry services, and our wider health and social care partners, we can ensure our communities receive the right care in the right place, and at the right time.”
Jude Marshall, Deputy Director of Primary Care and a practising GP, said: “The strategy was informed by what patients and staff have told us. It strengthens our focus on making Primary Care easier to understand and easier to access, while ensuring we continue to innovate and improve quality across all services.”
