The Sandyford Initiative: creating added value to health and health care

The Sandyford Initiative in Glasgow brings together Family Planning, Genitourinary Medicine and the Centre for Women's Health in a new partnership which aims to provide integrated health and social care in a manner which reflects a social model of health. The Steve Retson Project for Gay Men's Sexual Health is also situated within the Sandyford, providing clinical services within the context of a social model of health. The Initiative is managed by the Greater Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust but has been developed as a result of joint working between three main services, Greater Glasgow Health Board, Glasgow City Council and a number of voluntary organisations. By working to a social model of health, the intention is to ensure that the detection and management of health problems takes into account the social and economic determinants of health and that the provision and practice of health care reflects the social needs of the user. As such the Initiative is expected to make a significant contribution to the sexual health of men and women and the general and reproductive health of women in the Greater Glasgow area and beyond. The core of the Initiative is housed in premises tailored to the needs of the services and their users although satellite services are being planned. In addition to the core clinical and non-clinical care there are services designed to respond to the needs of specific groups such as young people, black and ethnic minority communities and disabled people, in order to improve access and uptake by previously marginalised groups. It is recognised that often the relationship between health and social service providers and their users becomes strained. Implementation of the Sandyford Initiative is intended to inspire confidence and contribute effectively to improving health and managing complex health problems.