Health Board rejects criticism of Glasgow parenting support

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) has rejected the conclusions of a report examining Glasgow’s parenting support framework due to its ‘lack of robustness’.

The Glasgow University Triple P report had earlier recommended that NHSGGC should not continue to fund the programme. It claimed it had minimal impact on families from deprived backgrounds and may even have increased social inequality because of the high drop-out rate.

However NHSGGC say there are a number of issues in the report which compromise the contribution it makes to understanding of parenting support in Glasgow.

Professor Linda de Caestecker, NHSGGC Director of Public Health, said: “The Triple P programme has supported more than 30,000 families since its introduction in 2009.

“Despite consistent and overwhelming evidence from parents and practitioners that Triple P is delivering improved outcomes, the report authors claim that it is not possible to attribute these improvements to the parenting programme.

“Our own evidence shows that Triple P is making a positive difference to the lives of thousands of families.”

Rejecting NHSGGC claims, report author Professor Philip Wilson, said: “The evaluation was independently and impartially conducted, and it has not given the answers the health board was hoping for.

“We have no agenda other than to conduct good quality research with a view to improving the design and commissioning of services for families, and in doing so the use of public money.”

For more on the research and its findings, click here.