Practice participation

Although the Deep End was defined originally, and arbitrarily, as the 100 most deprived general practice populations in Scotland, based on the percentage of patients living in the 15% most deprived data zones, the practices identified by this criterion have changed from year to year, partly due to practice closures and mergers, but also changes to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD).

Between 2009 and 2014, 120 general practices have met the criterion, of which 85 have featured in the “top 100” in every year. Their geographical distribution is shown below.

AreaNo of practices consistently in the Deep EndPractices listed in some yearsTotalParticipating in Deep End meetings
Glasgow City   69 8 77 61 (79%) 
Inverclyde   5 5 10  1 (10%) 
Elsewhere in GG&C HB  2 8 10  1 (10%)
Ayrshire and Arran HB  3 7  1 (14%)
Edinburgh  3 3 6  5 (83%)
Dundee  3  2  5  1 (20%)
Lanarkshire   0  3  3  0 (0%)
Aberdeen  0  1  1  1 (100%)
Fife  0  1  1  0 (0%)
TOTAL   85 35  120  71 (59%)


63 of the 85 (74%) consistent practices took part in at least one Deep End activity, compared with 13 of the 35 (37%) of the practices which were less consistently in the 100 most deprived practices.

Non-participating practices included 16 in Glasgow City (21%), 9 elsewhere in GG&C (90%), 7 in Inverclyde (70%), 6 in Ayrshire and Arran (86%),1 in Lothian (17%), 4 in Dundee (80%), 3 in Lanarkshire (100%) and 1 in Fife (100%).