Public Health

It is vital that our patients and staff can communicate clearly to ensure high-quality services and care. We therefore provide a range of communications support for patients. 

Patients may need this support because they are visually impaired, hearing impaired, have a learning difficulty, or because English is not their first language. It may be because they need support in terms of reading (literacy problems) or they have a condition which limits their ability to communicate. 

Written Information

We can provide any of our information in your chosen format or language.  This includes audio, easy read, Braille, large print, British Sign Language and community languages. Just ask a member of staff or contact us on the telephone number provided on the letter or information you have received. 

Use the link below for information in other languages including how to use telephone interpreting to contact us. 

Interpreting Services – Spoken Languages 

Patients can access the telephone interpreting service to contact any NHSGGC service. 

For example, you can use the telephone interpreting service to make an appointment with your GP, discuss medications with your Pharmacy, book a Maternity appointment or contact NHS 24. 

An information leaflet is available in multiple languages. It explains how to use the service by calling or by using a mobile app. It provides codes specific to NHSGGC services so can only be used for this purpose. 

Please note, for any healthcare appointment, it is the responsibility of NHS Great Glasgow and Clyde staff members to provide interpreting support. Make sure that your clinician/GP knows that you need interpreting support. 

Interpreting Services – British Sign Language (BSL) 

NHSGGC must ensure that BSL interpreting support is provided for you when you use our services. Please make sure your Clinician/GP knows that you need interpreting support so that they can arrange this with as much notice as possible. 

In addition to providing face to face interpreters, the BSL Online interpreting service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This means that in an unplanned or emergency situation, staff can quickly link up to an interpreter at any time. It can also be used during hospital stays, or to enable you to communicate with staff if waiting for a face to face interpreter to arrive.  

For people who are hard of hearing or who have hearing loss, we can access communication support such as lip speakers and note takers. 

Deafblind communicators are also available as part of our interpreting service.

Find waiting times for planned care hospital appointments in Scotland. In using this service from NHS Scotland and Public Health Scotland you can select a health board, appointment type, and department. If you’re on a waiting list, you should be able to find this information on your letter from your health board.

Public Health Scotland provide additional information on waiting times:

You may be on a waiting list to see a healthcare specialist. Further information to support your health and wellbeing during this time can be found here:

What is prehabilitation?

Prehabilitation (Prehab) is about you getting fit and ready for treatment. This is done by improving your health before you start any planned treatment/surgery and helps you cope better and recover faster.  You can also think of this as Rehabilitation but Prehab happens before treatment, rather than after.

Prehab and me

Although this looks at people with a cancer diagnosis, Prehab should be considered for anyone with a health condition.

An introduction to prehabilitation

Some things you can do

Setting yourself goals and having a plan in place to achieve them can help to motivate you by giving you a focus and direction, and helping you to feel productive. More information can be found here:

If you need additional support

If you would like further support, please speak to your health care professional.  The Support and Information service can also help to refer you to services that can help you. Information on how to contact them can be found here:

If you require surgery you can find more information about the Pre-Operative Assessment and how to prepare for your surgery. The service will help provide the tools and support you need to ensure you have the very best outcome from your operation.

What is a virtual appointment?

Near Me enables you to attend some health care appointments from the comfort and convenience of home or other suitable location e.g. community libraries via video call. The technology is safe and secure and is being used by many of our services. Near Me is for pre-arranged appointments and your health care professional will provide you with the relevant information if a video consultation is offered.

Watch the introduction to Near Me video

Further support and information on using Near Me for virtual appointments

You can find more information and support on the Near Me website, and also information on how to use Near Me in some of our local libraries on our Digital Support page.

Near Me can also be used for virtual visiting. You can find out more on our Person Centred Virtual Visiting page.

Near Me Information Leaflets

Find out more about how to access digital support:

What is Primary Care?

Primary Care is the everyday healthcare you use first. It’s where you go when you’re unwell, need advice, or aren’t sure what help you need. 

You can get Primary Care from: 

• Your GP practice – for most health problems, checkups and referrals 

• Your local pharmacy – for quick advice and treatment for minor illnesses 

• Physiotherapists – for muscle, joint and movement problems 

• Nurses and Advanced Nurse Practitioners – for assessments, treatment and advice 

• Dentists – for teeth and mouth care 

• Optometrists (opticians) – for eye and vision problems 

• Community Links Workers – for support with wellbeing, money worries, stress, housing or loneliness

Watch this video to find out more about Primary Care

To help you feel confident in seeking the right help, we’ve highlighted some of our NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Primary Care roles.

Find out what help and support is available if you look after someone.

When someone becomes ill, it can be stressful. Making simple plans now can make things much easier later. 

Our Plan More, Stress Less toolkit gives you: 

• A short video explaining what happens if someone goes into hospital 

• Easy checklists to help you get organised 

• A simple plan for getting home from hospital 

• Information for carers, including legal support 

You don’t need to wait until someone is unwell – these tools can help you feel prepared and confident for the future.

It’s ok to ask questions during your appointment and it is your right to be involved as much or little as you want in decisions about your health and what treatment is right for you. You can also ask a family member or friend to attend an appointment with you.
You are encouraged to ask questions about your condition, your treatment and care options. It’s ok for you to ask your health and care professionals the “BRAN” questions which are:

• “What are the Benefits?”
• “What are the Risks?”
• “What are the Alternatives?”
• “What would happen if I did Nothing?”

Your health and care professional should explain the benefits and risk of the options available to you. They should also discuss the option of doing nothing and what effects this could have. You should expect to be given enough information and time to make up your mind.

By asking these questions you will be able to make an informed choice about the treatment and care that’s right for you.

More information can be accessed through the following:

Information on hospital travel costs and help with these can be found here:

Information about hospital money advice services can be found here:

Practical and financial support is available, including home energy, emergency food on discharge, crisis cash grants, and money and debt advice.

Information on how to share your feedback can be found here:

Live better with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Using self-management strategies when you have COPD can help you with your quality of life. These can include:

• Help with your understanding of COPD
• Improving your breathlessness
• Reducing your anxiety
• Improving your ability to move and exercise
• Provide tips to help with activities of daily living

Some useful resources to support you

Watch the following videos to learn more about COPD

Further reading

Local Support and Contact Details

• Glasgow Asthma + Lung UK Singing for Lung Health
• Singing for Lung Health Glasgow (Platform Singers)
• Movement Matters – Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland

If you need additional support

If you have a diagnosis of COPD and would like more support, please contact and discuss with your GP/Doctor about onward referral to specialist respiratory care.

Quit Your Way

Are you looking to stop smoking? Have you ever thought of stopping or tried to stop before? 

To find out more about what our services can offer call Quit Your Way on 0800 916 8858 or find a Stop Smoking Service in your area via Scotland’s Service Directory on NHS Inform.

Staying active and involved

Would it be helpful to understand how you can help yourself to stay active and involved in the things that are important to you?

Allied Health professionals (AHPs) are experts in prevention and rehabilitation and will hep you focus on your abilities and strengths so you can stay connected to your community and live in your own home for as long as possible. There are five key areas where AHPs can make a positive difference to people living with dementia. The diagram below describes this:

The AHP Approach

• Maximising physical activity
• Supporting families and carers as equal partners
• Enhancing daily living
• Adapting everyday environments
• Maximising psychological wellbeing

Further information

Activities and exercise advice

What’s next?

If you need additional support, there are several ways you can access the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde AHP Services

• GP – you can ask your GP or Doctor to refer you if you live in Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board area.
• Hospital or Clinic – You may be referred by another NHS Service

Managing Osteoarthritis (OA)

We know that OA is a common joint condition which can be managed well with self-care and self-management

Would it be helpful to understand how you can help yourself if you are experiencing pain, stiffness, joint swelling, bony changes or muscle weakness?

The best way of managing to look after your physical body is a combination of movement, exercise and self-care guidance 

Looking after your physical health can: 

• Improve your overall movement and strength
• Improve your day-to-day function and activities
• Improve your mood and emotional well-being 
• Improve aches and pains

Further Information

Please take a look at the following clip which tells you a bit more about osteoarthritis and what to expect:

Things you can do to help yourself

What’s next?

For more advice and support visit What is MSK Physiotherapy? – NHSGGC

To access NHSGGC Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy services please find more information here on How to access the Physiotherapy Service.

Helping with falls and balance

Are you having falls or concerned about your balance?

• Are you happy with how you get out and about?
• Do you think you can improve your walking?
• Do you feel that you are less steady on your feet?
• Are you concerned about falling?
• Have you had a fall?

If you have had a fall there are ways you can help yourself to try and reduce the risk of you falling again. Falls happen for many reasons.

By identifying those reasons, actions can be put in place to help reduce the risk of another fall:

• Improve your mobility
• Improve your strength and balance
• Simple adjustments to your house/equipment which may help to improve/maintain your independence

Watch the following videos to learn more about how your abilities can change as you age

Find out more about simple steps you can take to improve your balance and prevent falls:

Information about things you can do to help yourself

If you are interested in becoming more active or improving your strength and balance, there are several resources to assist you with this.

Self-assessment and action plan

There are several online tools that can provide you with a personalised report to tell you about things that you might find useful in your daily life. By answering a few questions about your needs, they can give you specific advice and allow you to create an action plan.

What’s next?

Many underlying causes of falls can be treated or corrected. There’s a lot you can do yourself, or with your family or carer, to reduce your risk of falls.

Always speak to your GP, physiotherapist or occupational therapist, if you have had two or more falls in the last year – even if you are unhurt. If you have had two or more falls you may be at risk of falling again if you don’t take steps to reduce your risk of falls.

If you do feel dizzy or lightheaded for whatever reason, if you have ever experienced a blackout or lost consciousness or if you had palpitations before your fall, it is important that you speak to your GP. It may be something simple which can easily be addressed.

Speak to your GP, physiotherapist or occupational therapist who can support you with the right next steps.

MSK physiotherapy information

Would it be helpful to understand how you can help yourself with a pain or weakness from an injury or general joint, muscle, spinal pain?

We know that many musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions benefit from good self-care and self-management. The best way of managing to look after your physical body is a combination of movement, exercise and self-care guidance.

Looking after your physical health can:

• Improve your overall movement and strength
• Improve your day to day function and activities
• Improve your mood and emotional well-being
• Improve aches and pains

Some further resources to help you manage your condition

• Let’s get moving first steps
• Let’s-Keep-Moving-Next-Steps
• How to stay motivated to keep active | NHS inform 
• Soft tissue injury | NHS inform 
• Pain and injuries after exercise | NHS inform 
• Exercise – NHS 

There are several ways you can access our service:

• GP- you can ask your GP/Doctor to refer you if you live in Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board area. 
• Hospital/Clinic- You may be referred by another NHS Service 
• Yourself- If you live within the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area, you can refer yourself directly
• MSK Physiotherapy Self-referral form – NHSGGC 
• Printable Self-Referral Form – (paper copies are available from your local physiotherapy department or GP surgery). Please deliver or post your completed form to your  Local Physiotherapy Department.   

Dietetic information and advice

Worried that you may be at risk of Type 2 Diabetes or have pre-diabetes?

Factors that can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes include your age, weight, ethnicity and family history.

Use Diabetes UK’s ‘Know Your Risk’ tool, to check your risk of type 2 diabetes in just a few minutes. All you need are scales and a tape measure.

Already diagnosed with Prediabetes or Type 2 Diabetes? Learn how you can help yourself to manage your symptoms

Changes to your lifestyle, including managing your weight, stopping smoking or getting more active could significantly reduce the chances of developing type 2 diabetes or worsening of the condition if you’ve already got type 2 diabetes.

Watch the following videos to find out more about prediabetes and what type 2 diabetes is.

Control It Plus Programme

If you already have type 2 diabetes, we want to support you to self-manage your condition as best you can. Our main service to help you do this is our diabetes lifestyle programme, Control IT Plus.

The programme is delivered by a team of Diabetes Nurses, Dietitians and Podiatrists. See the information leaflet below on what our programme covers.

Type 2 Diabetes Hub

For further information on making lifestyle changes, accessing available support, or registering for Control It Plus, please visit our Type 2 Diabetes Hub:

Contact the Type 2 Diabetes Hub

• Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday, from 8.00am to 4.00pm and Friday 8.00am to 3.30pm
• Email: ggc.type2diabeteshub@nhs.scot
• Call: 0141 531 8901

Living well with pain

Would it be helpful to understand what changes you could make that may help you live well despite the pain that you experience?

We know that chronic pain is a condition that may not be cured or fixed and affects over one third of adults in the UK. It can affect what you are able to do and how you feel.

Understanding long-term management strategies is key. These strategies could include:

• Understanding more about pain and why it has stayed
• Managing your activities
• Understanding more about chronic pain and your mental health
• Managing your sleep
• Managing your medication

Videos which show more about Chronic Pain

Sources of support

• Flippin’ Pain
• Pain Concern
• Community Pain Education

If you need additional support

If you would like to access the NHSGGC Chronic Pain Service for more support, please ask:

• Your GP/Doctor to refer you if you live in Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board area
• You can be referred by another NHS Service

Helping you live well with pain Information video

Advice to manage your symptoms

Would it be helpful to understand how you can help yourself with fatigue, sleep issues, breathlessness and your mental wellbeing?

We know that some Long COVID symptoms can benefit from good self-care and self-management.

A good way of self-managing some of your Long COVID symptoms can be looking at ways to make your body systems work more efficiently, balancing energy and activity and taking a holistic approach.

Looking after your Long COVID can start with:

• Improving your sleep
• Balancing your energy through rest and adapted activity (please see fatigue section) and your nutritional intake
• Consider your mood and emotional well-being
• Improving the efficiency of your breathing

More information about self-care and self-management for Long COVID

Lived experiences of Long COVID video

Apps that can help you manage anxiety and improve your sleep

Further Resources

Good Breathing Video

What’s next?

How to access the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Long COVID Service:

• GP – you can ask your GP or Doctor to refer you if you live in Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board area.
• Hospital or Clinic – You may be referred by another NHS Service (Including Allied Health Professionals – Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech and Language Therapists etc.)

More than tiredness

Are you looking for help managing your fatigue?

Fatigue is more than tiredness – it’s persistent and not relieved by rest. With a fatigue condition, you may also experience Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) – a worsening of symptoms after even minor activity, stress, or infection. Symptoms can be delayed, and recovery may take days or longer.

Key strategies to manage these issues

• Understand your fatigue and its impact.
• Balance activity with rest
• Identify and avoid PEM triggers.
• Avoid boom and bust cycles- periods of increased energy (booms) followed by periods of fatigue (busts)
• Improve your sleep
• Reduce your stress levels
• Try gentle movement

To improve your understanding and management of fatigue please explore:

• Managing Fatigue – NHSGGC
• Lift up your everyday – managing energy | RCOT

Consider trying the additional advice below:

• Complete an activity diary to assess for triggers (post exertional malaise), unhelpful energy patterns (boom and bust) and your routines – Energy and symptom diary – NHSGGC
• Consider your mood and how this affects your sleep patterns.
• Introduce gentle movements, like mindful movement or tai chi (start at a level you feel comfortable). E.g- Tai Chi – Friends of NHS Centre for Integrative Care

More information and other Resources

• Onboarding Sleep Test – Sleepio
• Self-help tips to fight tiredness
• Here are the 7 types of rest that can help you to feel fully renewed — Calm Blog
• Fatigue – Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland
• The Sleep Charity
• Audio Practices – Mindfulness Scotland

Overweight

Would you like support to work towards a healthier weight?

Some of the benefits of achieving a healthier weight can include:

• Improved overall physical health and reduced risk of conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers
• Improved mental wellbeing and quality of life
• Better sleep and increased energy levels
• Improved mobility and joint health
  

Eatwell Guide Video

Further Weight Loss Information

What’s next?

If you would like weight management support in your area please visit Manage your weight – NHSGGC

Underweight

Are you malnourished? Would it be helpful to understand how you can help yourself to gain some weight? 

People who are malnourished are at risk from:

• Low mood
• Reduced energy levels
• Reduced muscle strength
• Reduced quality of life
• Difficulty with carrying out daily activities
• Increased risk of illness and infection
• Slower wound healing
• Increased risk of falls

The easiest way to gain some weight is using food fortification techniques, this means adding calories and protein to your diet.

To understand if you are at risk, you can use the online tool below.

Further information about malnutrition

What’s next?

There are several ways you can access our dietetics service:

• GP – you can ask your GP or Doctor to refer you if you live in Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board area.
• Hospital or Clinic – You may be referred by another NHS Service
• Visit the NHSGGC Dietetics service web pages for more information.

Advice and information

Would it be helpful to know how to improve any incontinence issues?

Learning how to use your pelvic floor muscles properly can help with your incontinence problems. Making appropriate changes to your lifestyle can help improve your quality of life. This may include:

• Decreasing bladder and bowel leakage
• Improving discomfort caused by pelvic floor prolapse
• Giving you more control over your bladder and bowel

Resources to help you

Watch the following videos to learn the correct technique for strengthening your pelvic floor muscles, and learning how not to strain on the toilet:

Guides and things you can do

• Pelvic Organ Prolapse: – a guide for women
• The Pelvic Floor Muscles – a guide for women
• Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises and Advice for Men

If you need additional support, you can be referred into the Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy service through:

• Your GP or hospital doctor
• Other Healthcare services, such as Nurse and Physiotherapy Specialists
• For further information on pelvic floor issues and how to self-manage them visit the Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy webpages.