“Occupational therapy helps you live your best life at home, at work – and everywhere else. It’s about being able to do the things you want and have to do.” Royal College of Occupational Therapists, (2023).
Occupations are all the activities of daily living that you need, have and want to do. Everything from getting washed and dressed in the morning, to going to work or school, to hobbies and leisure activities.
What do occupational therapists do?
Occupational therapists work with anybody who is having difficulty doing their occupations. Occupational therapists support people to recover and overcome barriers which are stopping them from doing what matters to them. We aim to empower you to actively participate in meaningful occupations to improve your mental and physical health and wellbeing.
Find out how occupational therapists help people to live and not just exist.
Occupational therapy has the power to transform lives.
How can occupational therapists help?
Occupational therapists consider the person, the occupation and the environment. We look beyond diagnosis and limitations and focus on what matters to you. We look at the occupation and the environment to support you to make changes to help you to participate more. Therapeutic interventions will focus on daily activities that matter to you. We might also help you to adapt your home, school and work environments. We may provide aids/equipment if/when it is needed.
Who do occupational therapists work with?
We all engage in occupations from the day we are born and then continue to do so throughout our life span. Therefore, occupational therapists work with children and adults of all ages with a wide range of conditions and differences. You can find out more about the different occupational therapy teams including how to contact them below:
Acute Adult Services
Occupational therapists work across the hospital sites and in different specialities. The best way to contact your occupational therapist is by contacting the ward or department. You can find ward contact information on the Main Hospitals page.
Children and Young People
Occupational therapists working with children and young people work in three teams:
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
Specialist Community Paediatric Teams
Royal Hospital for Children.
You can find out more about children and young people’s occupational therapy and how to contact them on KIDS.
Learning Disability
Occupational therapists work within both community and in-patient Learning Disability Services. They are based in sites across NHSGGC.
In-patient Learning Disabilities
Blythswood House
Fulbar Lane, Renfrew , PA4 8NT
Tel: 0141 314 9201
Claythorn House Ward
Gartnavel Royal Hospital, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 0YH
Occupational therapists work as part of multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Teams based in each Health and Social Care Partnerships across NHSGGC. Please choose you local authority and look for occupational therapy or rehabilitation teams on their websites.
Occupational therapists work in Social Work Teams based in Health and Social Care Partnerships. Occupational Therapists are linked to home care, housing, aids, adaptations and third sector supports. Please choose your local authority and look for occupational therapy, equipment or adaptations on their websites.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is committed to providing high quality care and treatment to our patients, and excellent service to others who use its services. Your feedback helps us build on what works well and improve what could be better.
Feedback
We encourage sharing feedback with staff delivering care, but offer various other ways for you to tell your story. It’s important to us that you can share your feedback about NHSGGC at a time and place you feel comfortable. You can find out more on our Share your feedback page.
Complaints
We understand, that sometimes things go wrong. If something goes wrong or if you are dissatisfied with something we have done, or have not done, please tell us and we will do our best to put things right. If we cannot resolve matters in the way you want, we will explain why it is not possible to do as you suggest. Find out more about our Complaints procedure or for further advice on how to make a complaint, please contact us via:
Phone: 0141 201 4500
E-mail: Complaints@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
How to become an occupational therapist
If you are interested in a career in occupational therapy you can find out more on the NHS Scotland Careers and ChooseOT websites.
There are 7 sites across the city of Glasgow with a Nuclear Medicine Department, 4 of these sites also have a speciality service. These departments perform both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
Links to specific sites can be found in ‘Information for Patients’ and ‘Sector / Site Contact Details’ below:
The Mortuary provides comprehensive mortuary services for adults and children in NHSGGC.
There is a mortuary at each of our main hospital sites and is generally located on level 0.
The mortuary is staffed 24 hours a day. Viewings are by appointment only.
What is microbiology?
The Clinical Microbiology service for Greater Glasgow and Clyde is delivered from 2 laboratories based at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
Each laboratory provides a full and comprehensive microbiology service to the population of Glasgow and Clyde. The laboratories are accredited by UKAS to ISO15189 and provide a modern diagnostic service which includes:
Microscopy – the use of microscopes to view samples
Culture – a method of growing microbial organisms under controlled laboratory conditions
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing – this helps determine the best treatment options.
Virology is the scientific discipline concerned with the study of the biology of viruses and viral diseases, including the distribution, biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology, ecology, evolution and clinical aspects of viruses.
Lymphoedema is a swelling that develops as a result of impaired Lymphatic system. This may be as a result of the lymphatic system not developing properly or through damage or trauma. It can affect any part of the body but is most commonly seen in an arm or a leg.
Where to find the Specialist Lymphoedema Service
Lymphoedema West Glasgow Ambulatory Care Hospital Dalnair Street Glasgow G3 8SJ
Referral to the service must be from a healthcare professional, such as your GP, district nurse or hospital consultant.
First Appointment
This can last approximately 1 hour.
Please bring a list of current medications and any compression hoisery you are currently wearing.
We will assess your Lymphoedema and work with you to agree the best course of treatment. This may include compression stockings or tights, a specialist wrap, flat knit or cicular knit garments.
We will also talk to you about how you can manage your condition at home and the steps you can take to support healing. This will include tips on eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Some great options for people with Lymphoedema include, swimming, yoga, waliing and regular stretches and flexes.
Other specialist Lymphoedema treatment may include compression bandaging.
As Lymphoedema is a chronic condition, the aims of treatment are individualised to help people manage this as independently as possible. Skin care, gently exercise, compression, garments and self-massage are all part of the long term management of Lymphoedema.
It is planned to move the service out of West Glasgow ACH late 2025 – details will be published here in due course.
A successful kidney transplant offers the best treatment for kidney failure and a living donor transplant can offer the best outcomes. The Living Donor Transplant Coordinators are based at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. They are a team of specialist nurses whose job it is to assess and support potential living kidney donors throughout the whole process.
If you would like to discuss anything further or be considered as a living donor, please get in touch with the team using the contact details below.
Diagnostic Imaging provides a wide range of services at hospitals throughout NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. These include X-ray exams, Fluoroscopy exams, CT scans, MRI scans, Ultrasound scans and Interventional procedures.
These are carried out in an Imaging Department (also sometimes called Radiology or X-ray).
For more information, please select the site where your appointment will take place below:
Haemophilia is a lifelong, inherited bleeding disorder. In haemophilia one of the clotting factor proteins, important for blood clotting, is either partly or completely missing. People with haemophilia take longer than normal to stop bleeding. They may have bled into joints and muscles without having had an injury.
Arterial thrombosis is a blood clot that develops in an artery. It’s dangerous as it can obstruct or stop the flow of blood to major organs, such as the heart or brain.
If a blood clot narrows one or more of the arteries leading to the heart, muscle pain known as angina can occur.
If a blood clot blocks the arteries leading to part of the heart muscle, it will cause a heart attack. If it blocks an artery in the brain, it will cause a stroke.
Symptoms, therefore, depend on where the blood clot has formed.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that develops within a deep vein in the body, usually in the leg.
Blood clots that develop in a vein are also known as venous thrombosis.
DVT usually occurs in a deep leg vein, a larger vein that runs through the muscles of the calf and the thigh. It can also occur in the pelvis or abdomen.
It can cause pain and swelling in the leg and may lead to complications such as pulmonary embolism.
DVT and pulmonary embolism together are known as venous thromboembolism (VTE).
The centre is based on the Ground Floor of the Medical Block in Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
To contact the service call: 0141 211 4840 or 0141 211 5127 Monday to Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm.
Out with these hours if you need urgent advice or treatment please phone the hospital switchboard on 0141 211 4000 and ask to speak to the haematologist on call for the Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
Haematology is the study of the cause, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases related to blood. It involves the production of blood and its components, such as blood cells, haemoglobin, blood proteins and bone marrow.
Haematology Staff
Haematologists investigate, diagnose and treat diseases such as anaemia, leukaemia and lymphoma. They also care for patients with blood-clotting abnormalities and are responsible for ensuring that blood transfusions are safe and available when they are needed.
Haematologists can be biomedical scientists and clinical scientists who work in laboratories as well as medical staff who work with patients in clinics and on the wards. They can be involved throughout the patient’s journey, from the first hospital visit, through laboratory diagnosis to treatment.
Hundreds of thousands of blood tests are done every day in the UK.
Haemostasis (Blood Coagulation)
Haemostasis is the human body’s response to blood vessel injury and bleeding. It involves a coordinated effort between platelets and numerous blood clotting proteins (or factors), resulting in the formation of a blood clot and subsequent stopping of the bleed.
Blood Transfusion
Blood transfusion is the process of receiving blood or blood products.
Transfusions are used for various medical conditions to replace lost components of the blood. Blood transfusion uses individual components of the blood, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, clotting factors and platelets.
Our Programme
Assessment: all SWMS patients will undergo an initial assessment.
Treatment: SWMS is a structured education programme.
Assessment
Patients referred to SWMS will undergo an initial assessment. They will be asked to complete a questionnaire prior to the assessment. The assessment will cover a variety of areas that we know can influence your weight management, including questions about:
Diet and weight history
Health conditions
Activity levels
Mood and well being
Motivation
The initial assessment allows us to direct you towards the best treatment plan for you. This may include further assessment with a Clinical Psychologistand/or a Physiotherapist.
Treatment
The SWMS is a structured lifestyle education programme delivered by a specialist multi-disciplinary team. This is primarily delivered in groups which are currently delivered online.
Some patients may be offered a 1:1 approach following assessment based on clinical need.
Our programme offers expert advice on diet, nutrition and physical activity, underpinned by psychological theory to support patients with their long term lifestyle change.
The standard SWMS programme aims to support weight loss and long-term weight maintenance. The specialist team will give advice and support with:
Psychological strategies
Physical activity guidance
Individual dietary
Lifestyle advice
All advice is tailored to the individual patient and take into consideration any severe and complex health conditions that may have an impact on their ability to make the necessary changes.
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