Clyde Biochemistry Laboratories (those based at Royal Alexandra Hospital, Inverclyde Royal Hospital and Vale of Leven Hospital) has been accredited with UKAS to standard ISO 15189:2012 for much of our test repertoire. The certificate of accreditation is available online.
The scope of our accreditation includes the majority of the tests performed by our laboratories, with a small number of tests not falling within our accreditation status (for example, no fluid analyses (on fluids other than CSF, urine or blood / serum / plasma) are accredited) – see the link above for details of our accredited scope.
Specialist services including Protein Electrophoresis and less often requested endocrine assays are based at RAH.
All routine GP work within the Clyde Sector is also based at RAH.
Please accept our apologies for the behaviour of links on this webpage. This is due to a global setting which is outwith the Biochemistry Department’s control.
We are committed to providing a quality service to users. If you wish to provide feedback on the Clyde Glasgow Biochemistry service, please contact our Quality Manager by emailing Pamela.craig6@nhs.scot
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) are the Government regulatory body for all fertility clinics in the UK. They collect data on all treatment cycles started and outcomes of those treatments, including success rates. They are currently updating their clinic data submission system and once complete in 2025, you will be able to see data on treatments from January 2020 to December 2023, and births from January 2019 to December 2022. In the meantime, you can visit their clinic profile for Glasgow Royal Infirmary ACS for the most recent inspection ratings, reviews and verified success rates.
When we receive your referral letter, one of the ACS doctors will decide if we need some more information from your referrer or if we have enough information to allocate you a clinic appointment.
When we are able to offer you an outpatient appointment, we will write to you and give you a date and time approximately 4-6 weeks later for you both to attend for your first ACS appointment. This may be in person or on the telephone, your letter will advise which.
If you are having treatment with a male partner, it is most important that your partner has had a sperm sample analysed prior to your appointment. This should be arranged through his GP.
Please note that if your partner has not had his sperm analysed before your first clinic appointment we will not be able to proceed with further investigation or treatment.
Your first visit
At your first consultation (which will take about 30 minutes) you will speak to a Specialist Fertility Nurse or a Doctor. They will take a detailed medical history from you both and ask for your current BMI. If your clinic appointment is in person we can check this for you and you may also need an internal ultrasound scan of your ovaries and uterus.
Please note that to be eligible for treatment offered by ACS you must meet the following criteria (the first two apply to the female partner only):
eligible patients must be screened before the female partner’s 42nd birthday
the female partner must have a BMI above 18.5 and below 30. Couples should be aware that a normal BMI is best for both partners.
both partners must be non-smoking and non-vaping for at least three months before being added to a waiting list for treatment and couples must continue to be non-smoking/vaping during treatment. This includes patches, gum and e cigarettes
couples where only one partner has legal parenthood of a child (or a biological child) can access NHS funded treatment as long as all other access criteria are met in full
same sex couples will not be eligible if they already have a child in the home and both have consented to legal parenthood of that child
If either couple have embryos stored from previous treatment, either NHS or self funded, these must be used before any further treatment
neither partner to have undergone voluntary sterilisation or had reversal of sterilisation
couples must have been cohabiting in a stable relationship for a minimum of two years
both partners must abstain from illegal and abusive substances
both partners must be Methadone free for at least one year prior to treatment
neither partner should drink alcohol prior to or during the period of treatment
Possible investigations
Provided you are eligible for treatment at ACS, the most likely outcome of your first visit is that we will be able to recommend a treatment appropriate for you. Should you decide to proceed with that treatment, your name will be placed on the appropriate waiting list. However, sometimes it will be necessary for you to make several visits to ACS before we can recommend a treatment appropriate for you. Here are some examples of reasons why that might be the case:
blood tests need to be carried out but cannot be done during your first visit as they need to be taken at a particular time in your menstrual cycle.
an x-ray or scan needs to be carried out to see whether your fallopian tubes are blocked.
your partner needs to provide another semen sample to confirm the results from his first sample.
your BMI needs to be reduced to less than 30 or increased to greater than 18.5
Reaching the top of the waiting list
When your name reaches the top of the treatment waiting list (which may take up to 12 months from the date of your referral to ACS), we will send you a letter giving you your next two appointment dates.
The first of these appointments (ART appointment) will be dated 4 to 6 weeks after the date of the letter you received, and the second appointment (Post Screen appointment) 2 to 3 weeks after that.
ART Appointment
At the ART appointment (which takes about 30 minutes to complete) You will meet with a Specialist Fertility Nurse who will:
take samples for tests that are required (e.g. high vaginal swab, Anti Mullerian Home etc.)
give you some registration forms to complete prior to your next appointment.
you will also be given some Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority consent forms. It is important that you and your partner read over these forms and discuss the relevant issues that require consent, such as using your eggs and sperm to create embryos for treatment, freezing embryos, research and training. All of these issues can be discussed further with the specialist fertility nurse at your next appointment should you have any questions.
Post Screen Appointment
At the Post Screen appointment (which takes about 1 hour to complete) You will meet with a Specialist Fertility Nurse who will:
review your medical history
discuss your test results
discuss in detail your recommended treatment cycle
complete your consent forms (both treatment and HFEA)
review the forms that you have completed
discuss arrangements for you to start treatment
Depending on when you have your period, your treatment will begin 5 to 8 weeks later.
Please visit NHS Inform for the most recent advice on the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine and pregnancy. Here you will find information specific to those in the process of having fertility treatment.
Update Friday 11th March 2022
On the 7th January 2022 it was nationally agreed that fertility treatment for unvaccinated women would be deferred with immediate effect. This recommendation was reviewed, as planned, alongside emerging evidence of risk and the prevailing levels of COVID-19, during January and February 2022.
Data from PHS demonstrates that both COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations are stabilising, and a reduced proportion of cases are resulting in hospitalisations, following the emergence of Omicron as the dominant variant. While data specifically on pregnant women is very limited, the available data on unvaccinated individuals suggests that the risk of severe disease requiring hospital or critical care admission has reduced over the last four to six weeks. Therefore, it has been determined that fertility treatment for unvaccinated patients will no longer be deferred.
The JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) advice on vaccinating pregnant women, namely that pregnant women should now be considered as a clinical risk group and part of priority group 6 within the vaccination programme remains the same. Therefore, we will continue to fully inform patients, prior to their treatment, of the evidence concerning the safety of vaccines in those planning pregnancy, undergoing fertility treatment and the pregnant population in respect of maternal and perinatal outcomes, including evidence for continued vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic COVID-19 disease. Furthermore, we will continue to advise patients at the start of the fertility pathway, and at every opportunity thereafter (making every contact count) about the risks of non-vaccination.
In line with the reviews recommendations, we will also ask patients to sign an informed consent form acknowledging that they are aware of the risks prior to treatment, similar to other aspects of the fertility pathway.
The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and there is no evidence to suggest that the COVID-19 vaccines will affect fertility in women or men.
The Scottish Intensive Care Society Report, published on 13 October, highlighted that of the 89 COVID-19 positive pregnant women who were admitted to critical care between December 2020 and end September 2021, 88 were unvaccinated, 1 was partially vaccinated, and none were fully vaccinated. Wave 3 has seen increased numbers of pregnant women being admitted to hospital with moderate to severe COVID-19 symptoms requiring critical care, with clinicians reporting a particular peak in September.
On 16 December, the Scottish Government, Chief Medical Officer, Dr Gregor Smith wrote to NHS Chief Executives highlighting recent updates to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation advice on vaccinating pregnant women, namely that pregnant women should now be considered as a clinical risk group and part of priority group 6 within the vaccination programme.
In addition to this, the latest evidence from the UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS) and the Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK (MBRRACE-UK) shows that unvaccinated pregnant women and their babies have died after admission to hospital with Covid-19 and 98 % of pregnant women in ICU with Covid-19 are unvaccinated. We also know that of all the women who have died during pregnancy or up to 6 weeks after birth, 88% of them were unvaccinated.
In light of the above evidence, the speed at which the Omicron variant is spreading through communities and the safety of pregnant women and their babies, it has been nationally agreed that fertility treatment for unvaccinated women will be deferred with immediate effect. We will review this decision during February 2022 or earlier if appropriate. Older women who have their treatment deferred, will have the deferral time added back on to their fertility journey to ensure that they do not lose out on eligibility for treatment due to their age.
Women who are within 12 weeks of having their second Covid vaccine dose or who have had their booster will continue their treatment as normal. For those who have recently had or are about to receive their booster vaccination, treatment can begin 10 days after the booster vaccination has been received. Positions on waiting lists will not be penalised if extra time is needed for vaccination.
Further information regarding the Omicron variant will continue to become available and any changes to current guidance will be communicated as soon as it becomes available.
For further information regarding covid vaccination in pregnancy and breastfeeding, please see the following link:
1. How long the treatment will be deferred / postponed?
Treatment will be deferred until February 2022 at which point the advice will be reviewed to determine if treatment can recommence of whether further deferral will be required.
2. If the risks are in pregnancy, why does my partner status matter?
If your partner gets infected you will be exposed to risk of infection. If you are a confirmed contact you will then need to isolate and will be unable to attend for monitoring/ treatment.
3. It is our personal choice to get vaccinate. Why are you forcing us to get vaccinated?
It is still your personal choice as to whether to have the vaccine, all we are saying is that we cannot proceed with treatment without evidence of vaccination due to the risks involved.
JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) has put pregnant women in high risk category.
RCOG (Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists), RCM (Royal College of Midwives), Scottish Government all are advising vaccination, including boosters for pregnant women.
4. Is it for all fertility treatment or only IVF?
The guidance relates to all fertility treatment and not IVF alone.
5. I am self-funding, why does policy apply to me?
As this is based on clear clinical advice around the risks for this group of women and the decision is based on protecting this group, this policy applies to all patients having treatment in Centres, not just NHS patients.
6. Will I have to provide evidence?
Yes. Please download the app. This will be checked when you come in to the centre.
7. If I wait, I will be more than 40. This will compromise my funding status
No this will not compromise your funding status. All patients having treatment deferred will have the deferral time added back on to their treatment journey to ensure that no patient loses out on treatment due to their age.
8. Can I go through stimulation and freeze embryos?
The same concerns around infection during treatment and subsequent cancellation of the cycle prior to egg collection apply.
9. Will there be further deferral?
We don’t know at this stage. The available data will be reviewed in February.
The Assisted Conception Service at Glasgow Royal Infirmary is a state of the art facility providing assisted conception services to patients throughout Scotland. The service has operated since 1983 and benefitted from a multi-million pound investment in 2014, enabling delivery of innovative assisted conception technologies in a modern purpose built accommodation.
All treatments we provide are NHS services and are individually tailored to meet your needs. In addition, in partnership with the Glasgow Royal Fertility Clinic, we provide services for those who wish to consider self funding their treatment.
Hundreds of people in Scotland need the help of egg or sperm donors to give them the chance to become parents and the gift of starting a family.
The Scottish Government and NHS Scotland have launched the first national campaign of its kind to encourage people to become egg and sperm donors, with the four NHS tertiary Fertility Centres in Scotland (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow).
Donating your eggs or sperm is something that requires careful consideration, but if it’s right for you then you have the potential to give the joy of starting a family to those people in Scotland, who need the help of donors to become parents.
The Achilles tendon is the biggest and strongest tendon in the human body. Achilles tendinopathy is a condition that can cause pain, swelling, stiffness and weakness of the Achilles tendon. It is a very common injury reported in runners, however, it is not exclusive to this population as people who have a more sedentary lifestyle will also suffer from it.
Symptoms of Achilles Tendinopathy
Pain generally tends to be worse in the morning, or during and after exercise. Some swelling and/or pain can occur around the tendon and calf area – most often in the areas shown below. The tendon may be very tender to touch and you may have increased discomfort wearing shoes that press against it.
The blue coloured area is the insertion point of the the tendon into the heel bone and the green coloured area is roughly the tendon itself with the yellow area the musculotendinous junction
Causes of Achilles Tendinopathy
The reasons for developing Achilles tendinopathy are varied but there are some common factors that seem to be important. The research consistently shows that reduced strength and endurance in the calf muscles is a major factor in developing Achilles tendinopathy. Also, being overweight will add more stress to the already struggling tendon. Footwear choice is important as the wrong shoes may aggravate the problem.
Treatment of Achilles tendinopathy commonly involves loading based exercises. This basically means exercises for the affected muscle/tendon unit with the aim that it improves strength and endurance and reduces the symptoms. Read a recent article in the British Journal of Sports Medicine around treatment.
Please don’t expect things to improve overnight though. It can take time for the tendon and muscles to adapt and improve. You may also find heel raises are useful to reduce the stress on the Achilles tendon while you are doing the rehabilitation, however, if they are uncomfortable, causing an increase in pain or other any other issues, then please remove them.
The video below demonstrates a range exercises that might help in the initial stages. There are 7 exercises in total. Numbers 1-4 relate more to problems with the Achilles Tendon, however, you may find the others useful too.
More advanced/progressive loading exercises
As the initial exercises become easier and less painful, it is important to progress and make the rehabilitation more challenging in order to improve the strength and endurance of the muscle/tendon unit. This progression is vital to ensure that the muscles and tendon are capable of coping with whatever activity you want to return to. The video below shows 5 videos that will take you through this progression.
Please make sure that you are comfortable and ready before making the step up to more challenging rehabilitation, and if in doubt, stay with the current plan until you are.
Please note: If you do not see any sign of improvement after 6 – 8 weeks of following the advice and exercises, please phone 0141 347 8909 for more advice and support.
This page shares information on self-harm work happening across Greater Glasgow and Clyde along with some useful resources and suggested reading.
What is self-harm?
Self-harm is an act that is intended to cause harm to one-self but which is not intended to result in death. It is often described by those who self-harm as a way of coping with emotional pain and of surviving distressing experiences. It is not a suicide attempt. Read our case study about developing a sustainable model of self-harm training delivery across Education Services in each of the six Health and Social Care Partnership’s in Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Suicide and Self-Harm – NHSGGC and Self-Harm | NHS inform.
Why should we focus on self-harm?
Self-harm is a growing public health concern. Self-harm is complex and it can be difficult to understand, both for the individual involved and for those around them who want to provide support. Stigma, discrimination and fear of being judged can stop people from disclosing their self-harm, making it difficult to keep records and have an accurate idea of scale. It is almost impossible to say how many individuals are using self-harm as a coping strategy, although data estimates that 1 in 6 people aged 16-24 have self-harmed at some point in their lives. The majority of those who self-harm do not go on to take their own life but a minority do and a small proportion of people who deliberately self-harm are at increased risk of subsequently taking their own life.
How you can get involved in supporting those using self-harm as a coping strategy
What’s the Harm Self-Harm Awareness and Skills Training Resource
What’s the Harm Self-Harm Awareness and Skills Training is a one day training course that seeks to standardise understanding of and responses to self-harm when used as a coping strategy. It has been informed by a wide range of existing work on self-harm from services supporting people who self-harm, research teams and those with lived experience of self-harm. The training recognises self-harm as a coping strategy, a response to distress and a means to keep living. It makes the distinction between suicide and self-harm whilst recognising that there are links between the two.
The NHSGGC self-harm forum is a group of trainers who have successfully completed the ‘What’s the Harm Self-harm awareness and skills Train the Trainer course. Trainers come from Health Improvement, Education and Third Sector.
The forum meets quarterly to keep abreast of national and board developments, share training updates and good practice and develop resources. The group reports to the NHSGGC Suicide Prevention Group and local structures as required. To find out more about the work of the forum, contact ggc.mhead@nhs.scot*.
*Please note that this is a generic admin inbox and not monitored immediately. If you, or someone you know are in distress and need an immediate response call the emergency services on 999 or NHS 24 on 111.
Resources
Self-Harm Resources and Supports is a comprehensive resource for staff providing support and advice to people who may be self-harming containing information on learning, resources, helplines, websites, apps and keeping safe.
A resource pack for teachers and professionals working with children and young people (upper primary onwards). It includes teaching support materials and further information in the form of signposting to external resources and advice services, references, and linked where relevant to the Curriculum for Excellence and other national guidance. Download via the links below:
We have gathered a range of different papers and reports which will provide you with helpful background reading on self-harm.
An Introduction to Self-harm: an evaluation summary from student wellbeing staff at Glasgow Caledonian University who attended an introduction session to self-harm.
Self-harm Strategy and Action Plan 2023-2027: Scotland’s first dedicated self-harm strategy and action plan aims for anyone affected by self-harm to receive compassionate support, without fear of stigma or discrimination.
Read our report: A partnership between the University of Strathclyde and the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Mental Health Improvement Team to build self-harm capacity for local training delivery within the University.
Read our case study about developing a sustainable model of self-harm training delivery across Education Services in each of the 6 Health and Social Care Partnership’s in Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
NHS Inform – Information about self-harm, including signs, causes, and treatment options.
“It’s not safe and consistent”: Read our report sharing the lived experiences of young people using social media who have experience of self-harm, including the potential risks and protective factors social media offers them.
What’s the Harm Strathclyde Uni 2025. Read how the University of Strathclyde are increasing self-harm awareness and skills in their organisation following completion of the What’s the Harm Self-harm Awareness and Skills Training for Trainers course in 2024.
