Representatives from health, money advice and homelessness prevention organisations came together at Glasgow Royal Infirmary this week to explore how support for patients, families and staff facing financial pressures can be strengthened across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
This workshop brought together partner organisations providing hospital-based financial inclusion support across a range of NHSGGC sites along with frontline advisers, NHS staff and service leaders to share experiences, discuss common challenges and identify opportunities for closer partnership working and look at what we can do collectively to strengthen the support available across our hospital sites.
Julie McGahan, Health Improvement Lead for Poverty and Financial Inclusion at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “Financial pressures have a significant impact on people’s health and wellbeing, and we know that patients may need help with a range of issues while they are receiving care or managing a health condition.
“Our hospital-based financial inclusion partners provide valuable support to patients, families and staff every day, helping people navigate financial pressures that can arise alongside illness, disability or other significant life events.”
Working alongside clinical teams and the Board’s Support and Information Service, advisers help people access benefits, manage debt, reduce household costs, and secure wider financial support at times when illness or changes in personal circumstances can place significant pressure on household finances.
Julie added: “By bringing partners together to share learning, good practice and experiences, we can continue to improve the support available and identify the key issues affecting communities across Greater Glasgow and Clyde. We also want to ensure that the experiences of our patients and frontline advisers help inform wider discussions with national partners and organisations.”
To find out more about hospital-based money advice services, go to the NHSGGC website.
