You may be discharged from hospital but admitted to the Virtual Hospital because your condition:
Requires ongoing monitoring or treatment
Can be safely managed at home
Does not require you to stay in hospital.
This approach allows you to recover in a more comfortable setting while still receiving high-quality care. It also allows us to free up hospital beds for patients who need them.
Contact Information
If you have a non-urgent concern: Contact the Virtual Hospital between 8.00am and 10.00pm, 7 days a week by calling 0800 652 1425. Your enquiry will be passed to a member of the clinical team for advice.
If you think it’s urgent but not life-threatening: Call NHS 24 on 111.
If you think your condition is life threatening: Go straight to your nearest A&E or call 999.
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What is the Virtual Hospital?
The Virtual Hospital (sometimes called a “Virtual Ward” or “Hospital at Home”) provides:
Ongoing monitoring by a clinical team (sometimes daily)
Advice and support when you need it
Access to specialist input if your condition changes.
You will remain under the care of a hospital team, even though you are at home.
Why would I be admitted to a Virtual Hospital?
You may be discharged from hospital but admitted to the Virtual Hospital because your condition:
Requires ongoing monitoring or treatment
Can be safely managed at home
Does not require you to stay in hospital.
This approach allows you to recover in a more comfortable setting while still receiving high-quality care. It also allows us to free up hospital beds for patients who need them.
How will my condition be monitored?
Depending on your needs, we may ask you to:
Check and record your observations (e.g. your temperature, pulse, oxygen levels)
Report symptoms or any concerns
Take medications as prescribed.
We will discuss everything with you before you are discharge from the ward.
Is this safe?
Yes. This option is only offered when your team feels it is safe for you to go home with the right advice and support. If you are unsure, please talk to us before you leave. We want you to feel confident before leaving the hospital.
Who will look after me?
Your care team will be made up by a number of people depending on your specific needs, but may include:
Nurses
Doctors
Advanced Practitioners
Allied health professionals (e.g. physiotherapy, pharmacy)
Administrative support staff.
What if I need special equipment?
If you need equipment such as:
Blood pressure monitor
Pulse oximeter to measure your oxygen levels
Thermometer to take your temperature.
We will provide them and explain how to use them safely.
Will my test/scan be delayed because I went home?
No. Your test is still prioritised and arranged as part of your hospital care.
Do I need to contact my GP?
No. This is organised through hospital services. Once complete, your GP will receive a copy of the results.
What will happen if I miss my appointment?
The team will contact you and discuss next steps.
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Read more on the pathways that affect you.
What is Discharge to Scan?
Discharge to Scan means you are well enough to go home, but you still need a CT or MRI scan to help your hospital team complete your care.
Instead of staying in hospital to wait for your scan, you can recover at home within our Virtual Hospital and return for your scan when your appointment is ready.
This helps you:
Get home sooner
Rest and recover in familiar surroundings
Avoid staying in hospital longer than you need to.
Why am I being offered this?
Your hospital team has checked that:
You are medically fit to leave hospital
It is safe for you to go home.
You have been offered Discharge to Scan because it is safe, planned and supported.
Remember ‘It’sOkay to Ask’. The hospital team will make sure you understand the Benefits, Risks, and Alternatives, including doing nothing (We call this BRAN).
What happens next?
Going home
Before you leave hospital, we will:
Explain why it is safe for you to go home
Talk through any symptoms to watch out for
Give you clear advice on who to contact if you feel unwell.
The team are happy to answer your questions. You should feel confident and informed about going home, before you leave the hospital.
Your scan appointment
After you go home:
The Virtual Hospital will contact you
The staff will book your scan
We will phone you with the appointment details
We may offer you an appointment at any hospital in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. If you request a specific location, this may delay your scan
Most scans are arranged within 5-7 working days.
You do not need to phone to book the scan yourself. We will do this for you.
Coming back for your scan
On the day of your scan:
You will come into hospital just for the scan
The team will explain what will happen
You can usually go home after your scan.
Getting your results
After your scan:
The results will be reviewed with your hospital team
We will contact you with the results within a few days of your scan
Your referring clinician or hospital team will let you know if you need any follow up appointments or treatment.
What should I do while I’m at home?
While waiting for your scan:
Follow the advice given by your hospital team
Rest and recover as you normally would
Get help urgently if you feel worse.
Your hospital team will give you clear instructions on:
Which symptoms mean you should get help
Who to contact during the day
What to do out of hours.
If you are worried, do not wait for your scan appointment.
Contact Information
If you have a non-urgent concern: Contact the Virtual Hospital between 8.00am and 10.00pm, 7 days a week by calling 0800 652 1425. Your enquiry will be passed to a member of the clinical team for advice.
If you think it’s urgent but not life-threatening – Call NHS 24 on 111.
If you think it’s an emergency – Go straight to your nearest A&E or call 999.
Discharge to Virtual Review means you are well enough to go home, but you still need follow-up blood tests to help your hospital team complete your care.
Instead of staying in hospital to wait for your blood tests, you can recover at home within our Virtual Hospital and return for your blood tests when your appointment is ready.
This helps you:
Get home sooner
Rest and recover in familiar surroundings
Avoid staying in hospital longer than you need to.
Why am I being offered this?
Your hospital team has checked that:
You are medically fit to leave hospital
It is safe for you to go home
You still need monitoring (blood tests).
You have been offered Discharge to Virtual Review because it is safe, planned, and supported.
Remember ‘It’s Okay to Ask’, the hospital team will make sure you understand the Benefits, Risks, and Alternatives including doing nothing (We call this BRAN).
What happens next
Going home
Before you leave hospital, we will:
Explain why it is safe for you to go home
Talk through any symptoms to watch out for
Give you clear advice on who to contact if you feel unwell.
The team are happy to answer your questions, you should feel confident and informed about going home before you leave the hospital.
Your blood test appointment
After you go home:
The Virtual Hospital will contact you
The staff will book your blood test for you
We will phone you with the appointment details (date/time/location)
Appointments are usually arranged within a few days and up to one week depending on your clinical need.
You must be able to attend a clinic for your blood test as blood tests cannot currently be carried out at home.
Your Virtual Review
After your blood test:
A clinician will review your results
You will have a telephone or video consultation to discuss your care
The team will explain what will happen next:
If your results are reassuring, you may be discharged from the pathway
If further care is needed, your clinical team will explain the next steps.
What should I do while I’m at home?
While waiting for your appointment:
Follow the advice given by your hospital team Rest and recover as you normally would
Attend your blood test appointment as arranged Get help urgently if you feel worse.
Your hospital team will give you clear instructions on:
Which symptoms mean you should get help
Who to contact during the day
What to do out of hours.
If you are worried, do not wait for your appointment.
Contact Information
If you have a non-urgent concern: Contact the Virtual Hospital between 8.00am and 10.00pm, 7 days a week by calling 0800 652 1425. Your enquiry will be passed to a member of the clinical team for advice.
If you think it’s urgent but not life-threatening: Call NHS 24 on 111.
If you think your condition is life threatening: Go straight to your nearest A&E or call 999.
The following services have been relocated to Barr Street Health Hub. More details will follow in due course.
Community Treatment Centre for Brain Injury
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Douglas Inch Centre DIC / Forensic Team
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Referrals to the lymphoedema service are accepted for patients who have diminished lymphatic drainage as a result of:
Primary:
Under development of lymphatic drainage system.
Secondary:
Cancer and cancer treatments
Trauma – e.g. burns
Other medical conditions resulting in swelling of the legs.
Referral can be made through the patient’s GP or from other health care professionals involved in the patient’s care provided the GP has consented.
The first appointment will be for assessment and diagnosis. No treatment is given on this day but follow-up appointments will be arranged if treatment necessary. Treatment plan will be discussed with individual patients.
All nurses involved in patient care are trained and hold academic qualifications in specialist lymphoedema treatment.
Lymphoedema Scotland
This website is for patients, carers and healthcare professionals. There is information on lymphoedema self-care, who to contact to find about about lymphoedema care in your area and we provide links to other sources of information.
Lymphoedema is a condition where a part of the body, usually a limb, swells up because there is a problem with lymph drainage.
Occupational Health Nursing and Physician clinics, physiotherapy and counselling services.
Clinics are also provided on set days at the following locations:
Glasgow Royal Infirmary
Royal Alexandra Hospital
Inverclyde Royal Hospital
Vale of Leven Hospital.
Occupational Health Service (OHS) provides specialist advice to support you at work on all matters relating to your health and wellbeing.
We have a multidisciplinary team made up of Specialist Occupational Health Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Physiotherapists, Consultants and Specialist Registrars in Occupational Medicine and Administration staff along with links to a wider range of specialists.
OHS actively supports the Health Improvement Agenda with a key focus on Healthy Working Lives (HWL) and the delivery of the Staff Health Action Plan. As a key stakeholder of the Board our focus on proactive health improvement will indirectly support the Board’s aspirations for the health and wellbeing of the wider community.
We operate under a strict code of confidentiality and your records are kept separate from all other NHS records.
How to access the service
Employees can be referred to the service by their manager or can self refer for advice, support or treatment should they wish to do so. The OHS can be contacted by telephone to arrange an appointment or direct your call to the appropriate person.
Occupational Health work closely with Human Resources, Infection Control, Health and Safety and local Management to ensure appropriate measures are in place to protect your health at work.
Our range of services
Occupational Health Nurse & Physician Services
Pre-employment health assessments
Occupational immunisation assessment
Advice about treatment following needlestick injury or other blood borne virus exposure.
Health surveillance
Workplace assessments
Reviews of health, work fitness and rehabilitation after absence
Health promotion in the workplace including Healthy Working Lives.
Physiotherapy Services
We can offer treatment and advice on:
Musculoskeletal condition
Workplace assessments
Review of health, work fitness and rehabilitation after illness
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Within the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital we have an Alongside Midwifery Unit, also known as our AMU. This is our hospitals midwife led unit which we are recommending to all women that are low risk of labour and birth complications.
The birthing rooms within the unit are designed to have a homely and relaxing feel and are equipped with mood lighting, speakers and aromatherapy diffusers. We also have lots of equipment to support you in upright and active birth including birthing balls, CUB chairs and large birthing pools. Within the unit we can offer gas and air, morphine and water immersion for pain relief and we can also support you in waterbirth.
The unit is minutes away from labour ward should you request any alternative pain relief such as an epidural or if you or your baby require any additional support. Please talk to your midwife at your next appointment if you are interested in using our AMU for your labour and birth.
Changes to NHSGGC Maternity Visiting and Support from Partners
To ensure we’re maximising rest periods for women staying at our maternity wards, we have changed when partners, key supporters, friends and family can visit.
The AMU at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) is a wonderful, new exciting Midwifery led birthing unit situated alongside our very popular Labour Suite. We have 3 ensuite rooms available, 2 have state of the art birthing pools. We, as a Team, encourage all pregnant women with no antenatal risk factors to experience intrapartum Midwife led care and birth their babies within our AMU.
The rooms are comfortable and spacious with space to mobilise during labour, a birthing couch and recliner chairs are supplied for those times when our labouring women wish to rest. However, upright and active positions are encouraged during labour and birth. Aids such as peanut balls birthing balls, ballet bars and rebozo sling with chair is available to facilitate this. Hydrotherapy pools in the rooms are a fantastic option for not only pain relief but also to aid comfort and support a weightless freedom of movement which helps our women get their bodies into optimal positions to birth their babies. Our staff are trained to welcome your little ones into the world underwater if this is your preferred birth plan.
We encourage all our women to eat and drink throughout labour, so please remember to pack your favourite energy boosting snacks into your bag.
We have Bluetooth speakers in the rooms for your birthing playlist. The speakers also have vibrant laser lights should you wish this for your environment. We also provide oil diffusers. We can provide some aromatherapy oils to diffuse but if you have a preferred scent then please bring it with you. Fairy lights and battery operated candles are in all AMU rooms.
Pain relief options within the AMU are hydrotherapy, gas and air, TENS and morphine injections. If you wish to use hypnotherapy/meditation techniques during your labour our staff are more than happy to support you. We would encourage you to take the time to consider your plans and document them into your BadgerNotes birth plan, this way all your care providers will know your wishes in advance.
We will listen to your babys heartbeat every 15 minutes in the first stage of labour and every 5 minutes in the second stage of labour using a pinard stethoscope and/or a handheld doptone machine. If we find your baby needs some further monitoring then a wireless CTG machine will be commenced for at least 20 minutes. If we have any concerns during your labour, fully informed discussions with yourself and birthing partner will take place prior to a possible transfer to obstetric led care and your allocated Midwife will remain with you at all times.
Once your baby is born and all is well you may be offered the opportunity to go home that day. We encourage a minimum of 6 hours after birth to stay and have a rest in our department. During this short stay your baby would have a hearing screen as standard, a full neonatal examination, we would support your choice of feeding and supervise this if required, you would have some observations taken and if all remains well then you should be spending your first night as a family in your own home. During some very busy periods this option is not always available but we always aim to provide it.
If you are interested in chatting to us about our AMU at QEUH please speak with your named midwife.
Changes to NHSGGC Maternity Visiting and Support from Partners
To ensure we’re maximising rest periods for women staying at our maternity wards, we have changed when partners, key supporters, friends and family can visit.
We have nine main hospital sites and 35 hospitals. This includes five maternity hospitals/units, five Emergency Departments, three Minor Injuries Units, and the Glasgow Dental Hospital.
Patients under 16 years are asked not to attend the Emergency Departments at the RAH, GRI or IRH as these departments are currently very busy. Patients under the age of 16 in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area, that require urgent care, are advised to attend the Emergency Department at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow. See address below.
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