Skip to content
Home > Services A to Z > Public Health > Page 5

Public Health

The aim of this website is to provide support to healthcare professionals, especially midwives and health visitors, when interpreting the result of a haemoglobinopathy screening.

Haemoglobinopathies are a large group of inherited blood disorders, which affect haemoglobin (an oxygen carrying substance found in red blood cells). Some haemoglobinopathies can cause life-threatening symptoms, while others do not cause medical problems or even signs of the condition. Mild haemoglobinopathies may go undetected and require no medical treatment.

Carriers of haemoglobinopathies are not expected to present with any health problems. However, it is important that they are aware of their carrier status as it has reproduction implications.

Pregnancy Screening Results
Newborn Screening Results
Information and resources

Geographical mapping of uptake rates for NHSGGC Adult Screening Programmes is available at data-zone level. Maps are available at HSCP level for AAA, Bowel, Breast, Cervical and DES screening programmes.

Data zones are groups of 2001 Census output areas and have populations of between 500 and 1,000 household residents. Where possible, they have been made to respect physical boundaries and natural communities. They have a regular shape and, as far as possible, contain households with similar social characteristics.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening: Uptake data at datazone level from 1st April 2022 – 31st March 2023:

https://www.nhsggc.scot/downloads/aaa-screening-uptake/

Bowel Screening: Uptake data at datazone level from 1st April 2022 – 31st March 2023:

https://www.nhsggc.scot/downloads/bowel-screening-uptake-2023-2024/

Breast Screening: Uptake data at datazone level from 1st April 2022 – 31st March 2023:

https://www.nhsggc.scot/downloads/breast-screening-uptake-2023-2024/

Cervical Screening: Uptake data at datazone level from 1st April 2022 – 31st March 2023:

https://www.nhsggc.scot/downloads/cervical-screeni…uptake-2022-2023/ ‎

Diabetic Eye Screening (DES): Uptake data at datazone level from 1st April 2022 – 31st March 2023:

https://www.nhsggc.scot/downloads/des-screening-uptake-2022-2023/

Screening uptake 2021-22

AAA – NHSGGC

Bowel – NHSGGC

Cervical – NHSGGC

DES –NHSGGC

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening

All men aged 65 who live in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area will be invited to take part in abdominal aortic aneurysm screening.  If you are over 65 you can self refer.

Using an ultrasound scan, we look for aneurysms in the stomach so that we can monitor or treat them.  

For more information on screening, please visit the NHS Inform Website.

If you want to make or change your appointment, please phone 0141 277 7677.

British sign language video information – Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening – British Sign Language (BSL) | Translations (nhsinform.scot)

Screening information for the Transgender community – Transgender screening in Scotland | NHS inform

Bowel Screening

Do yours – it could  be a life saver.

Here’s to the half a million Scots who did their bowel cancer screening test last year.

It’s the best way to catch it early and, if you do, you’re 14 times more likely to survive.  So if you’re aged between 50 and 74, do your test and join the bowel movement.

This animation is also available in the following languages:

Arabic – Bowel screening (Arabic) | Translations (nhsinform.scot)

Chinese – Bowel screening (Chinese – simplified) | Translations (nhsinform.scot)

Punjabi – Bowel screening (Punjabi) | Translations (nhsinform.scot)

Urdu – Bowel screening (Urdu) | Translations (nhsinform.scot)

Roma – Bowel screening (Roma) | Translations (nhsinform.scot)

British Sign Language – NHSGGC – Bowel Cancer Screening – British Sign Language – YouTube

For more information about bowel screening please visit NHSinform

Patient Information

Bowel Screening test

Bowel screening information leaflets in different languages are available on the NHS Health Scotland website.

Having a Colonoscopy

If your bowel screening result came back positive, you will be referred to your local Health Board for a colonoscopy.  Information about having a colonoscopy is available in the following languages:

(Please note: These leaflets are currently under review)

Screening information for the Transgender community – Transgender screening in Scotland | NHS inform

Bowel Screening Policies

This page is intended for professionals involved in the delivery of bowel screening across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Highland – Argyll & Bute sector.

Please note: These policies are currently under review and will be updated in due course.

The current clinical policies for bowel screening are:

Breast Screening

Did you know that……?

  • 1 in 8 women in Scotland will be diagnosed with breast cancer
  • if caught early, you are 5 times more likely to survive breast cancer
  • breast screening saves 130 lives ever year in Scotland
  • it only takes 10 minutes
  • breast screening can detect tiny cancers that are less often advanced and easier to treat
  • breast screening appointments are sent to all women aged 50 – 70 every three years

Find out how Elaine C Smith got on with her breast screening appointment

Information about Breast Screening:

This animation is also available in the following languages:

Arabic – Information about breast screening in Scotland | Translations (nhsinform.scot)

Mandarin – Information about breast screening in Scotland | Translations (nhsinform.scot)

Punjabi – Information about breast screening in Scotland | Translations (nhsinform.scot)

Urdu – Breast Screening (Urdu) | Translations (nhsinform.scot)

Roma – Breast screening (Roma) | Translations (nhsinform.scot)

British Sign Language – NHSGGC – Breast Cancer Screening – British Sign Language – YouTube

Don’t get scared, get screened.

If you want to get in touch with our helpful staff at the breast screening centre to change your appointment or want to know when you are due an appointment, phone them on Tel: 0141 800 8800

Breast Screening Centre
Stock Exchange
77 Nelson Mandela Place
Glasgow G2 1QT

Tel: 0141 800 8800

For more information about breast screening, please visit NHSinform Website

Patient Information

Cervical Screening (Smear Tests)

Cervical screening is routinely offered to anyone with a cervix in Scotland between the ages of 25 and 64 every 5 years.

Regular cervical screening (smear test):

  • Is the best protection against cervical cancer
  • Saves around 5,000 lives every year in the UK
  • prevents 8 out of 10 cervical cancers from developing.

The test takes less than 5 minutes and can save lives.  Go on, add a smear to your to-do list.

Make your appointment with your GP Practice

For more information about cervical screening, please visit NHSinform.scot

The Lowdown on Cervical Screening: Dr Flanagan, talks about colposcopy and what you can expect:

Information about Cervical Screening:

This animation is also available in the following languages:

Arabic – Cervical screening (Arabic) | Translations (nhsinform.scot)

Mandarin – Cervical screening (Mandarin) | Translations (nhsinform.scot)

Punjabi – Cervical screening (Punjabi) | Translations (nhsinform.scot)

Urdu – Cervical screening (Urdu) | Translations (nhsinform.scot)

Roma – Cervical screening (Roma) | Translations (nhsinform.scot)

British Sign Language – NHSGGC – Cervical Cancer Screening – British Sign Language – YouTube

Screening information for the Transgender community – Transgender screening in Scotland | NHS inform

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

The HPV virus is very common and causes 99% of cervical cancers.  You can catch it through intimate sexual contact with another person who already has it. Because it is so common, most people will get infected at some point in their life. People are often infected without knowing it as there are usually no symptoms. In most women the virus does not cause cervical cancer.  

For more information about cervical screening visit NHSinform website

HPV vaccine for secondary school pupils

The HPV (cervical cancer) vaccine is offered to girls and boys of secondary school age to protect them against the two types of HPV that cause cervical cancer.

From January 2023, the immunisation schedule for HPV has changed – only one dose of the vaccine is required.

For more information visit the NHS Inform Immunisation website.  

Colposcopy

If you have been referred to Colposcopy, it will be for one of the following reasons:

  • you had three unsatisfactory smears, or
  • your recent smear test result was abnormal.

Our leaflet below gives you more information about colposcopy. (Please note: These leaflets are currently under review)

Diabetic Eye Screening

Everyone with diabetes runs the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, a condition that may cause blindness or serious damage to eyesight.

As part of a national screening programme, anyone with diabetes over the age 12 years is invited to have their eyes checked.

Visit NHSinform Website for more information about the screening programme

To change your appointment, please phone 0141 277 7417 and one of our staff will be on hand to offer you a  more convenient appointment time.

Pregnancy and Newborn Screening

For information about the screening tests offered during pregnancy and newborn stage, please visit the links below:

Pregnancy screening in Scotland | NHS inform

Blood tests during pregnancy – Screening | NHS inform

Screening for Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome | NHS inform

Newborn screening tests and examinations in Scotland | NHS inform

Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) | NHS inform

Ultrasound scans during pregnancy – Pregnancy | NHS inform

Mid-pregnancy scan (fetal anomaly) – Pregnancy screening | NHS inform

Diagnostic tests during pregnancy | NHS inform

For further information, please visit NHSinform Website

Directions and Telephone numbers to Antenatal Clinics and Maternity Units

The UK guidelines suggest that the average adult should undertake 150 minutes of physical activity per week. 

More than half (54%) of all Greater Glasgow and Clyde residents are not active enough to gain these health benefits.

See Chapter 5. Section 5.3.1 of the Director of Public Health Report 2015-17 for more background information on levels of physical activity in Glasgow and Clyde.

See also the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 2014/15 Health and Wellbeing Survey  (Section 3.4)

To help with this, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have a Physical Activity Team who work with a range of partners to try to increase physical activity levels.  Part of our remit is to work with our six Local Authority partners and to part fund the delivery of three core physical activity programmes; Health Walks, Live Active and Vitality, which are available and promoted throughout the GGC area. 

Further information

Get Active – Information for public
Guidance for health professionals

The Public Health – Health Services is responsible for co-ordinating and monitoring screening programmes across Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Argyll & Bute (part of NHS Highland).

Screening can find conditions early, before you get any symptoms. The earlier the condition is found, the better your chance of dealing with it. If a condition is found early, it is less likely to become severe and you are less likely to need major treatment.

Contact us

Dr Bea Von Wissmann, Interim Head of Health Services & Equalities

Heather Jarvie, Programme Manager (adult screening)

Uzma Rehman, Programme Manager (adult, pregnancy, newborn and vision screening)

Leanne Carnevale, Administration Team Leader

Emma Kinghorn, Senior Support Officer

Jo Zelazny, Senior Support Officer

Jade Curtis, Senior Support Officer

Liz O’Hora, Senior Support Officer

You can contact us by emailing phsu.admin@ggc.scot.nhs.uk or call 0141 201 4541.

Screening Programmes
Reports
Datazone Maps
Cervical Skills Training
Haemoglobinopathies Result Interpretation Support
Patient Information

The Information Management team is part of the Public Health Directorate.

The Information Management service enables public health and health improvement staff across NHSGGC to have access to high quality health information.

Resources
Books

A range of books on health improvement topics, public health issues and health management. There is also a variety of books covering general health and lifestyle issues, all of which are available to borrow.

Search the combined library resources of NHS Scotland including those held by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Public Health and Health Improvement Resources

Our Public Health Resources Directory (PHRD) provides access to comprehensive information about the full range of public health and health improvement resources available to clients across Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The new system also provides an easy to use online ordering facility. 

www.phrd.scot.nhs.uk

Public Health Resource Directory (PHRD)

Features:

  • Search or browse for resources
  • Online ordering
  • Preview and/or download (where available) pdf copies of resources
  • Feedback and comment on resources
  • Keep up to date with resource alerts

You will also find details of how to register and order resources along with guidelines on maximum quantities available to order for each resource on the site.

You should know that:

These resources are free of charge to people living or working in the NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde area. To ensure they are used to their best advantage, these materials should be used in conjunction with group teaching or individual health counselling.

Sample copies of resources are available to preview at West House.

If you have any question contact:

perl@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Stor – a digital repository for Public Health

Stòr is NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde’s digital repository for Public Health. It is a web based collection of published research and grey literature produced by and for public health in the NHS across Glasgow and Argyll & Clyde since the 1970s. All digital items can be accessed free of charge and in full text. 

Stòr 

Journals

The Information Management team facilitates access to a wide selection of journals covering a range of public health, health improvement and management topics. 

Print journal subscriptions are negotiated at a national level by NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and most titles are available to search and browse on the Knowledge Network.

This arrangement follows an extensive needs assessment and tendering process to ensure cost savings to NHS boards, increased access to journals and improved currency of journal collections to all health and social care staff in Scotland.

A back run of print journals, held in storage, is available for users to browse on request. Details of our print journals ( which cover health management, public health and health improvement) and their availability are available to download.

Inter-Library Loans

An Inter-Library-Loans and Document Delivery Service is available for NHSGGC Board staff.  Before requesting a copy of an article, staff should check the Knowledge Network to see if the desired article is available online.   For articles which cannot be accessed via the Knowledge Network, staff should complete the Document Delivery form and return it to a member of IM staff.   To arrange a book loan please complete the Inter-Library-Loan form and return it to IM.    For further information on this or any other service please contact us at:
perl@ggc.scot.nhs.uk 

The Knowledge Network replaced the NHS Scotland e-library as of the 1st March 2011 and provides access to more than 6000 full text journals. The Information Management team offers training in how to use the Knowledge Network either in group settings or individual drop-in sessions. Contact us to discuss training to any other aspect of the Knowledge Network.

e-Tables of Contents

The Information Management team can arrange for  NHSGGC Board staff to receive the contents pages of journals via email. Theses journals may be in physical or electronic format; this service can be organised for any title for which the publisher makes this service available. Please contact us for further details: perl@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Services
Literature Search

The service

Literature searching is a process to locate reliable, appropriate and current evidence on a specific topic.  Qualified information professionals conduct literature searches for NHSGGC staff on public health topics.

The search

A literature search consists of a search of several biomedical databases (such as Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library) and may also include subject gateways, the Internet and/or the holding of other libraries.  The PHRU IM team offer five search types:

  1. Rapid review (24hr turnaround, for outbreak support, media/FOI enquiry etc) – contact the IM team directly
  2. Ad hoc / enquiry answering (1 week turnaround, brief update on specific topic/subject)
  3. Standard (2 weeks turnaround, database(s) search to meet general/generic information needs)
  4. Standard combined (3 weeks turnaround, database(s) and grey literature search to meet general/generic information needs)
  5. Advanced (4-5 weeks turnaround, to inform top level projects)

How to request

To request a literature search complete our online literature search request form or contact us to discuss your search requirements.

Search results

Search results are emailed and contain: the databases searched, the terms used, the limits applied, and a list of references (with abstracts if available).  Sourcing full text documents is a separate process and IM staff can assist in this process.

Training

The IM team also offer training on how to literature search and use the Knowledge Network. Contact the IM team if you would like to discuss training.

Clear to All – Guide to creating effective and accessible information
Clear to All

Interactive SWAYs to guide you through some of the services we offer.

Introduction to Health Literacy using PHRD
Clear to All
NHS Inform
Contact Us

West House, Ground Floor
Gartnavel Royal Hospital Campus
1055 Great Western Road
Glasgow
G12 0XH

Tel: 0141 201 4915/4540

Email: perl@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Being in Good Work is good for you…

The aim of the Employment and Health Team is to improve the health, safety and wellbeing of our working age population. The Team continues to provide a range of services and resources to support health and wellbeing in the workplace.

Good Work

“A healthier workforce really does make a difference when it comes to staff retention, attendance and productivity.”

Looking after your staff can result in improvements in their health and morale and also a reduction in accidents and sickness absence. We provide free, confidential support and advice to help employers create a safer, healthier and more motivated workforce. All our services are free, and can benefit both your organisation and your employees.

Workplace Training Programme

The Employment and Health Team offers an extensive programme of free training to all businesses in Greater Glasgow and Clyde. This is currently delivered remotely and is advertised via our monthly newsletter.

Some training sessions are aimed at improving the wellbeing of all staff, and other more specialised sessions are aimed at managers and those with a human resources role.

Employment and Health – Virtual Training January – March 2024

Further Information

Resources

Resource Catalogue

Resource Booking Form

NHSGGC Public Health Resource Directory

NHSGGC Health & Wellbeing Directory

Public Health Scotland Virtual Learning Environment (Workplace)

Public Health Scotland Virtual Learning Environment (General)

Ahead for Health Video

Supporting a Mentally Healthy Workplace – Healthy Working Lives Resource

Newsletter

2024

Archive

To subscribe to our newsletter, please email: healthyworkinglives@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Get in touch

For more information or to find out how we can support your workplace please contact us on 

Telephone: 0141 201 4860

Email: healthyworkinglives@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Follow us on Twitter: @nhsggc_hwl

Follow us on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/HealthyWorkingLivesNHSGGC/

Employment and Health News on our Social Media Channels

Public Health Directorate

This section provides information on Public Health issues and functions. Much of the information will be of interest to staff and professional audiences working in the fields of Public Health and health improvement.

Turning the tide through prevention: Public Health strategy 2018-2028

What we do

Our Public Health Directorate aims to:

  • Influence policy and strategy including legal and fiscal measures to protect and promote health and reduce health inequalities.
  • Work with communities and partner organisations to improve health and reduce inequalities
  • Provide leadership for Public Health across NHSGGC and partner organisations
  • Ensure the protection of the public from communicable and non-communicable diseases and environmental hazards
  • Monitor the pattern of disease in the community
  • Assess the health needs of the population and advise how these needs can be met
  • Facilitate the strategic development of health care services provided
  • Ensure the systematic implementation of evidence based practice, clinical and quality standards for healthcare, preventative programmes and interventions such as screening; immunisation and behaviour change
  • Provide support for professional development – building capacity, research and evaluation services, access to evidence base and services to ensure dissemination of resources.

On 21st August 2018 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Board approved “Turning the tide through prevention“, our new ten year Public Health Strategy. 

Find out more about our work and achievements in our 2015-2016 Out-turn report (pdf)

How we work

Our vision is to improve our population’s health and tackle health inequality.

We will build on our relationships with staff and residents across NHSGGC to adopt healthier lifestyles by working with, and supporting local communities, employers and staff.  To deliver our vision, our mission is to focus on the changeable determinants of ill health and provide clarity and co-ordinate efforts to prevent health inequalities and to enable our staff and partners to deliver our vision. 

Our Public Health Challenge
  • High numbers of children and families who continue to experience poor outcomes
  • Increasing number of individuals and families affected by poverty, debt, fuel and /or food poverty and homelessness
  • Poor life expectancy, high levels of morbidity and disability and the need to access a wider range of health (and other) services at a younger age and for longer than other areas of Scotland
  • Appropriately meeting the needs of an increasingly ethnically and culturally diverse population and delivering accessible, needs based services
  • High demand on resources associated with mitigating the impact of health inequalities on individuals rather than influencing their prevention upstream.
Priorities for preventing ill-health and early intervention

These include:

  • Improve identification and support to vulnerable children and families
  • Enable disadvantaged groups to use services in a way which reflects their needs
  • Increase identification of and reduce key risk factors including those associated health inequalities (smoking, healthy weight, drug, alcohol use and poverty mitigation)
  • Promote mental well-being, reduce disabling distress and suicide  and ensure early intervention for mental ill health
  • Embed the principles of the health promoting health service across care settings
  • Increase the use of anticipatory care planning; vaccinations and screening
  • Increase the proportion of key conditions including cancer and dementia detected at an early stage
  • Enable older people to stay healthy
  • Reduce harm from external hazards to health.
DPH Report
Healthy minds: the report of the director of public health on population health in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 2017-2019

Previous Reports

Back to basics: report of the Director of Public Health on population health in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 2015-2017
Building momentum for change: report of the director of public health on population health in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 2013-2015
Keeping health in mind: report of the Director of Public Health into the health of the population of Greater Glasgow and Clyde and recommendations for action 2011 – 2013
An unequal struggle for health: report of the Director of Public Health into the health of the population of Greater Glasgow and Clyde and priorities for action 2009-2011
A call to debate: a call to action. A report on the health of the population of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 2007 – 2008

The Public Health Directorate is based at West House on the Gartnavel Hospitals campus.

Contact us

West House
Gartnavel Royal Hospital Campus
1055 Great Western Road
Glasgow
G12 0XH

Further contact details

Director of Public Health

The Director of Public Health is:
Dr Emilia Crighton 
Email: Emilia.Crighton@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Head of Health Services and Equalities

Dr Bea Von Wissmann, Interim Head of Health Services & Equalities

General enquiries: publichealth.healthservices@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Head of Health Protection

General enquiries: phpu@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Head of Health Improvement

Anna Baxendale

General enquiries: hiadmin@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Our work is delivered through the following departments

Public Health Protection Unit (PHPU)
Public Health Screening
Health Improvement
Maternal and Child Public Health
Information Management
Research and Evaluation
Pharmacy Public Health
Equalities in Health

Poor diet and an unhealthy weight are two of the main contributors to poor health in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area and seen throughout our lifecycle. 

The Scottish Dietary Goals were established 20 years ago to set the direction of a healthy diet to reduce the burden of obesity and diet-related disease. Unfortunately little progress has been made and we still consumes too much energy, saturated fat, sugar and salt and not enough fruit and vegetables, oil-rich fish and fibre. This poor diet is contributing to obesity.

We know that across NHSGGC: 

  • 22% of primary 1 children are overweight and obese
  • 16.9% of women and 9.2% of men aged 16-24 years old are obese
  • 65% of men and 59% of women aged 16-64+ years old are overweight and obese. 

Obesity and poor diet exist across the population but inequalities exist with diet and obesity being particularly worst in our poorer communities.

What we’re doing to address these issues: 

NHSGGC are committed to addressing poor diet and weight issues by working with our partner organisations to provide programmes supporting healthier choices such as: