Scheme piloted in Dundee will be rolled out to rest of Scotland

A health and social care scheme being piloted in Dundee’s most disadvantaged areas could be rolled out across the rest of Scotland.

As well as handing out medical advice, GPs at Maryfield, Mill, Erskine and Whitfield medical centres now also refer patients to link workers.

This, in turn, helps the patients access a range of community activities such as art therapy.

Scottish Government minister for mental health, Jamie Hepburn, yesterday visited the Whitfield Medical Centre where he paid tribute to the Dundee initiative.

“We have a number of health inequalities in Scotland and we are determined to narrow that gap,” he said. “This programme is right on the front line of the battle against such inequality.”

Gwen Robertson benefited from the service when she developed depression, and it also supported her through cancer.

“It was brilliant. I was referred to art therapy classes and cognitive behaviour classes. It lifted me out of the dark,” she said.