Changes to your diet can significantly improve IBS symptoms in some people. Eating well, being well hydrated and increasing/ decreasing your fibre intake (based on symptoms) might be helpful in managing symptoms. Links below provide further information on diet.
Alcohol can make IBS symptoms worse. Reducing alcohol intake can help to reduce symptoms, as well as having positive effects on physical and mental health.
If your patient requires behavioural change support to become more active, has a history of heart disease and / or has had a stroke within the last 6 months, please refer via Live Active.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has the largest MSK team in the UK and we are committed to providing the highest quality of care to our patients, and in return we invest in your development.
Our Vision
The NHSGGC MSK Physiotherapy Service will deliver a comprehensive, accessible, quality service responsive to the needs of the public it serves and fit for the 21st century. It will ensure the delivery of this service is of clinical and educational excellence encompassing at its very heart a patient focused model of care. The service will be consistent, equitable, safe and efficient and provide the highest standard of care for adult patients with a musculoskeletal condition.
Our Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide a high quality musculoskeletal physiotherapy service that is effective, person centred, safe, timely, efficient and equitable. We aim to create a dynamic and innovative culture where all staff are valued and supported to work in partnership with patients, providing a service to be proud of.
Who is in the NHSGGC MSK Physiotherapy Team?
MSK Consultant
MSK Advanced Practice Physiotherapists
GP Advanced Practice Physiotherapists
Back Pain Advanced Practice Physiotherapists
Band 6 MSK Physiotherapists
Band 5 MSK Physiotherapists
Health & Social Care Support Workers
Service lead MSK Physiotherapy
Quadrant (Senior) Managers
GP APP Clinical Leads
Team Lead Physiotherapists
Practice Development Physiotherapists
Administrative Team
We also have strong links working alongside:
Orthopaedic Advanced Practice Physiotherapists
Band 5 Rotational Physiotherapists
Community Administrative Teams
Learning and Development
Learning and development comes in many forms. We offer an excellent range of learning and development opportunities that focus on fulfilling your potential and ambition, guided by the National Education of Scotland’s 4 pillars of Practice.
In-service Training- local & service wide
Annual MSK conference
Dedicated CPD time
Course funding
Online learning platform opportunities
Organisation bursary
Dedicated MSK Practice Development Group
Dedicated B5 training
Flying start for new graduates
CPD via TURAS appraisal
Annual wellbeing event
Peer coaching
Mentorship
Weekly case review
Clinical supervision
Clinical reasoning support from Advanced Practitioners
Virtual support clinics with Advanced Practitioners
Ask the APP live Teams channel
Graduate Opportunities in NHS GGC MSK Physiotherapy
As well as the learning and development opportunities for all our MSK clinicians, we offer a dedicated B5 training pack including:
Our MSK service is split into 4 geographical areas:
Clyde (Inverclyde and Renfrewshire)
East (East Dunbartonshire and North East Glasgow City)
South (South Glasgow City and East Renfrewshire)
West (North West Glasgow City and West Dunbartonshire)
We provide assessment and treatment in both acute and primary care sites: our locations.
How To Apply
Our vacancies are advertised on the NHS Scotland Job Portal. All vacancies are listed in regions please select NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to view the opportunities within our Health Board.
Follow our Twitter account for up-dates and job opportunities
More information about the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area
The North East Sector provides both a General Nuclear Medicine and a Specialist Nuclear Cardiology service. Please select which service you wish to access by clicking the links below.
After an illness you may find you have difficulty catching your breath and feel short of breath more easily. This is called breathlessness. It is a common problem if you have had coronavirus (COVID-19), even if you have not attended a hospital. It is also a normal feeling which happens as a result of exercise or a change in the temperature or humidity of the air around you. This can be a scary feeling but there are several things you can do to reduce this feeling.
Techniques to Reduce Breathlessness
Positions to Ease Breathlessness
Using a different position will allow your breathing muscles to work better and help you to feel less short of breath. You might find one position works best for you. Feelings of panic will often make your breathlessness worse so trying to relax in your preferred position will also help. Lying on your front (prone lying) can help reduce breathlessness if you are recovering from coronavirus (COVID-19). Adding pillows under your chest or pelvis may make this position more comfortable. Only use this position if you feel comfortable and it helps your breathing.
Sit in a relaxed position in a chair with your back well supported. Place one hand on your tummy. Slowly take a deep breath in through your nose. As you breathe in, allow your tummy to rise up and then feel it relax down as you breathe out slowly. This may take some practice but can be very useful to help reduce breathlessness.
Relaxation techniques
Breathlessness can be a scary experience, especially if you have not experienced it before. It often causes people to feel anxious leading to a panic attack. Anxiety and panic themselves can lead to more breathlessness creating a vicious cycle. The breathing techniques above can help to reduce the feeling of breathlessness and so lower anxiety levels.
This can be useful to control breathlessness when you are walking or being more active. Take a breath in through your nose then gently breathe out through your mouth with your lips pursed, just like are whistling or blowing out a candle. Try to breathe out for longer than you breathe in.
Blow as you go
Breathe in before you start to move, then breathe out when you are making a big effort, such as bending down, lifting something heavy or going up stairs.
Fan therapy
Hold a small hand held fan about 15 centimetres away from your face, aim to feel the air on the centre of your face above your lip, the cool air can help you feel less breathless. A desk or free standing fan can also be used.
Here are some tips to help clear secretions in your chest that you find difficult to get rid of:
Drink water regularly throughout the day.
Limit the amount of tea and coffee you drink.
If your mouth feels dry your airways are dry too so drink some water (Note: Some medical conditions mean you have to restrict fluid intake, if you think this applies to you discuss and check this with your GP)
Avoid alcohol as it can make you dehydrated.
Steam or humidity can also help loosen and clear secretions. A warm shower can often be useful.
Moving around can be one of the best ways to clear secretions as activity makes you breathe deeper. This can help loosen and move secretions making it easier to clear. Remember that after illness you may find yourself more tired, breathless and low in energy even when just walking. So take your time and build up activity gradually and rest when you need to. You can find some simple activities and exercises to get you started on the physical activity pages.
Cough Management
Coughs can be caused by different of things like smoking, allergies, heartburn (acid reflux) or infections like COVID-19. Further information and guidance on managing a cough can be found from NHS Inform
Breathing Exercises & Techniques to help Remove Secretions
These videos explain two physiotherapy techniques you may want to try:
Active Cycle of Breathing Technique
Autogenic Drainage Technique
Please note: The above videos were produced by Advanced and Specialist Physiotherapists within the Respiratory Services of NHSGGC. The aim of the videos is to provide patients with a diagnosis of bronchiectasis with treatment options to help manage their symptoms. The Respiratory Physiotherapy Services have expertise managing a wide range of respiratory conditions and these videos are relevant to managing other lung conditions.
Information produced by NHSGGC Physiotherapist, Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care, NHS Inform
Esteem Glasgow is a community mental health service hosted by HSPC, for people usually within the age range 16 – 35 years, who appear to be experiencing their first episode of psychosis. We have four teams working in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and they work with people for up to two years.
Esteem offers different types of support which have been shown to help people recover from psychosis, including medication, practical support, family work, groups and psychological therapy. You can contact us at Esteem from Monday to Friday between 9.00am – 5.00pm.
Contact Info
Contact the North Team
Telephone: 0141 232 2239
Address: Kershaw Unit, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 0XH
You may be aware of feeling very stressed or worried lately, and you may have spoken to your GP or someone close to you about this. You might have noticed some unusual experiences or feelings which can often be frightening or make you worry more. You might have started having problems at home, with other people or when you leave the house.
When someone is under stress, it can affect them in many ways. Some people notice changes in their body, such as sleep pattern or their interest in food. People also notice changes in how they feel or think, and the things they do.
When people get very distressed or worried a whole range of unusual experiences can occur at the same time. Within mental health services, this is often referred to as psychosis.
This can be frightening or overwhelming for people; especially if it seems those around them do not understand what is happening.
Common Experiences of Psychosis
Changes in Thinking
Some people feel like their thoughts have been taken away, are speeded up or are being controlled by someone or something else. There can often be some strong or unusual beliefs, such as feeling that some powerful force is out to hurt you or everyday things become more significant and meaningful to you.
Changes in Emotion
You might start to feel low all the time, more angry than usual or notice that you have lost interest in the things you used to enjoy.
Changes in Senses
Some people notice strange smells or very bright colours. There can also be images or voices that no-one else can see or hear. The voices people hear can often be very critical or threatening towards you. They sometimes comment on the things you do or try to get you to act in particular ways.
Changes in Behaviour
People can often start avoiding other people or staying indoors more, usually as they feel this helps keep them safe. It can be difficult to keep track of things or concentrate on what you are doing at times. This can be particularly difficult if you are being distracted by the voices you hear. Read Rai Waddingham’s article about her lived experience with Psychosis.
How to be referred
You can be referred by: Your GP, Community mental health teams, Inpatient services, Primary care teams, Statutory and non statutory services or you can self refer with the agreement of your GP.
The team consists of medical staff, community nurses, occupational therapy, support workers and psychology.
In Esteem we work together with the young person and their family. We meet with families at the early stages in someone’s care to gather information and offer support. Where possible we involve families in care and treatment planning.
We offer regular information evenings for families and the allocated keyworker can provide one to one support.
Useful Links
Read Stephanie’s account of working with the ESTEEM team – Stephanie Allan; Early Intervention in First Episode Psychosis: A Service User’s Experience, Schizophrenia Bulletin, Volume 43, Issue 2, 1 March 2017, Pages 234–235.
Telephone referral is preferable. You can contact the team and speak with a duty worker.
We also have further information for staff on our StaffNet page.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) causes a wide range of effects on the body. Common symptoms include cough, fever and/or high temperature and loss of sense of taste and smell. Most people infected with COVID-19 will experience mild symptoms and will recover without special treatment. It can cause more severe symptoms in some people, and some have longer term symptoms which may include fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive dysfunction or other symptoms which have an impact on everyday functioning. These symptoms may also fluctuate or relapse over time.
NHS Inform provides the most up to date guidance on COVID-19 from NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government. This includes physical distancing measures and current advice for infected households.
Recovery from Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Recovery from COVID-19 will take time and this is likely to vary from one person to another. You may feel breathless and very tired for several months once you get home from hospital.
Effects of COVID-19 may include:
Physical symptoms – Shortness of breath, low energy, unable to do usual day to day activities
Mental symptoms – Poor memory, ‘brain fog’, difficulty with planning/organising or problem solving
Information produced by NHSGGC Physiotherapist & Occupational Therapist, Asthma + Lung UK, The British Lung Foundation and NHS England.
During a hospital stay you can spend more time in bed or in a chair than normal. This causes your muscles to get weaker and make you feel like you have less energy. This is a normal process caused by being less active, but it is something which can be improved with movement. Movement should be as abilities and condition allows, it can mean as little as moving more often and sitting for shorter spells. Speak to a member of staff if you are unsure or need support.
It is important to improve muscle strength so you can return to your normal life. Being able to do your hobbies and interests is good for both your physical and mental recovery. These are things you can work up to as you become stronger and less tired. But you should recognise if you are becoming over-tired. You can read more about how to manage fatigue and save your energy in our Fatigue Management Page.
Stay Active at Home
Here are some examples of how you can be more active at home:
Move Regularly
Sitting still for long periods of time is not good for our bodies. Move your arms and legs regularly to stop them becoming stiff and sore. Stand up and move at least once every hour to help with balance and circulation.
Basic Seated Exercises
If you are struggling or unable to stand you can try some seated exercises.
You can also follow this Physiotherapy-led seated exercise class:
Basic Standing Exercises
If you are able to stand, why not try this exercise routine below:
Work on strength and balance
Work on Strength and Balance
Assess your strength and balance and work at a level that is appropriate for you using the tools on NHS Inform
When you are recovering from illness you may find you are more breathless than normal. Remember to take breaks as you need them and gradually increase the number of times you do each exercise/activity as you feel able. There are some tips on coping with breathlessness <breathing easier section>
The Talk Test is a simple way to measure how hard you are exercising. In general, if you’re doing moderate intensity activity, you can talk but not sing during the activity.
When to Stop Exercising
You should stop exercising and rest if you experience any of the following: • Chest pain • Increase in chest tightness • Dizziness or feeling faint • Much more breathless than you experienced the last time you did this exercise
If symptoms continue for more than 2-3 minutes, contact your GP.
Exercise programmes
After a period of illness or injury when you are starting to get back to normal life and would like to continue to improve your fitness there are a number of schemes available in the Glasgow and Clyde area.
Vitality Classes – Specially designed for people living with a range of medical conditions, and are ideal if you are finding that a lack of strength and/or poor balance is starting to impact on your daily life.
Call: 0141 232 1860
Live Active Referral Scheme – Qualified Live Active Advisors will chat to you to discuss benefits and set activity goals that are suitable for you in relation to your medical conditions (if any) and taking into account the current Scottish Government guidelines around Coronavirus (Covid-19).
Call: 0141 232 1860
Live Active Advisors are able to support you at a time and in a way that suits you best (e.g. phone call, texts, emails or video calls or face to face) depending on the latest Scottish Government guidelines. All Advisors follow the latest guidelines to ensure that the physical activity goals set are safe, effective and following the latest safety measures. They are there on hand to help support, motivate and advise so that a regular physical activity routine is established.
Call: 0141 232 1860
Ask your GP or Physiotherapist about a referral or follow the link above for more information.
If you are a health professional and never referred into Live Active before then please email liveactive@ggc.scot.nhs.uk to chat through the referral process and scheme in more detail.
Walking programmes
Walking is a great way to increase your general fitness and help your mood. The websites below will give you information on how to get started and keep motivated.
NHS England Active 10 – Free Active 10 walking tracker app shows how much brisk walking you’re doing and helps you do more.
Paths for all – Paths for All is a Scottish charity which aims to increase the number of people walking every day in Scotland to improve well-being and prevent ill health. See the website for free, gentle, volunteer led health walks that are available for everyone. Walks usually last up to 1 hour and there are over 75 walks taking place each week.
Call: 0141 232 1860 to discuss walking options near you.
National guidance
National guidelines are published by the Chief Medical Officers in the UK on the amount and type of physical activity people should be doing to improve their health.
NHSGGC Neurorehabilitation Unit has videos of seated exercise classes suitable for those with a physical disability, all lead by NHS GG&C Physiotherapists
Later Life Training produce 3 daily ‘movement snacks’ (search Make Movement your Mission). Movement snacks are short sessions to integrate into your day. Videos are saved on their Youtube channel for you to access whenever you wish.
Information produced by NHSGGC Physiotherapist, NHSGGC Active Wards Group, NHSGGC Health Improvement Team, NHS Inform, NHS England, Moving Medicine, Paths for All, UK Chief Medical Officers, Later Life Training.
Tips for Managing Fatigue during your Recovery
During your recovery from illness you may feel more tired which affects what you are able to do. This is a very common problem for people who have had the illness even if you did not need to go to hospital. Everyone’s experience of fatigue will be unique.
Daily activities require both physical and mental energy (such as concentration, attention and problem solving) as well as emotional energy (talking with family and making decisions). This will all impact on feelings of fatigue.
Below are some ideas on how to help you to manage your fatigue as you recover from your illness.
Try to plan your day. Break it into small parts. Rest between activities and only do what you feel able to do. Try and set easy goals to begin with.
Try to avoid a boom/bust cycle by doing lots of things one day and then nothing the next few days. Instead try to pace yourself and spread out what you are doing during the week.
Avoid sitting for too long. Get up each hour to have a stretch or get a glass of water. Remember to use any walking aids you require.
Your energy levels will be different on different days – this is normal
Build up your strength but in small chunks. Think of what you can do on both your good and bad days and slowly build up from there. This will take time. For example when making a meal try to increase the time you can stand at the worktop before you need a seat. If going for a walk add a little bit more each time – an activity tracker you can wear on your wrist can show you how many steps you have taken and show your improvement.
Use an activity diary by writing down each activity you have carried out during the day you can follow your progress. Remember this could look very different each day depending on how you are feeling.
If you are trying to build up your activity but find that you are always feeling more tired and unwell after doing this, do not keep trying to increase it. Instead, work with what you feel you’re able to manage which does not seem to increase your fatigue. It may be of benefit to speak to a healthcare professional if this continues longer-term.
It is also important to eat and sleep well – for more information on this see the General Well-Being – NHSGGC
Adapting Activity
If you are struggling to carry out everyday tasks, try to change them – sit when you are preparing a meal; put smaller loads into your washing machine. Spread chores such as dusting and vacuuming across the week.
If you are feeling tired, ask yourself – do you need to finish (or even start) the task? Can someone else do it? Or can it wait?
Sit down to save energy where possible. Avoid going up and down the stairs – leave items that you would like to take up at the bottom of the stairs and take them up in the evening when going to bed.
Support and Advice
Our occupational therapy colleague are experts in helping manage fatigue, adapting activities and supporting with your day-to-day activities
Information produced by NHSGGC Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapists, The Royal College of Occupational Therapists
I was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit – What now?
Patients with the most severe symptoms of coronavirus may spend time in the Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Recovery after an ICU stay can be a traumatic time for both patients and their families. Consequently, some people develop symptoms of Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS). Symptoms of PICS can include anxiety, depression, not wanting to leave the house, avoiding friends, poor memory, reduced sleep, having pain and feeling generally weak.
Important points for your recovery
• Remember your GP is your main source of help and advice. • Please try to attend any hospital appointments as they will help improve your health. • Getting enough sleep, eating well and taking sensible amounts of exercise can all help with your recovery (see general well-being section).
PICS Symptoms
Physical Symptoms
Physical changes
When you are very unwell in ICU, the nerves and muscles are also affected which can lead to something called ICU-acquired weakness (ICUAW). You might have noticed that your thigh and arm muscles are smaller than they were before you went to ICU and you might still feel weak despite having been home for a while. This is a common problem. It occurs in up to half of the patients who stay in the ICU for at least one week. Some people find that it may take more than a year to fully recover from this weakness, which can make every day activities difficult. It is easy to get frustrated – many people feel ‘the mind is willing but the body won’t follow’.
Pacing is important. You wouldn’t take all your medication for the week in one day and the same is true for exercise. You must do little and often rather than doing everything in one day and then being too tired the rest of the week. The leaflet below has practical tips on pacing and how to conserve energy.
Pain is a common problem for many patients after ICU. It occurs in many areas of your body and has many different causes. These problems can improve over many months but it is important you discuss your pain with your GP. This is very important if pain is stopping you from building your muscles back up. Some people (but not all), feel the pain has gone away completely a year after leaving hospital.
Change in Mood and Mental Health
Many people have little or no memory of their time in ICU and this is often due to something called Delirium, which occurs when you are very unwell and the brain can’t lay down memories as normal. This can lead to confusion, unusual thoughts, flashbacks and nightmares. These are common emotional responses after being in ICU. People can experience traumatic stress and it can take time to process this. These symptoms often improve over time and talking to other people can be useful. There are lots of other ways to find help and don’t forget, your GP is there to help you.
Further Information
Websites
Critical Care Recovery Website which includes information, advice and support on recovery after Intensive Care.
ICU Steps Intensive Care Patient support charity provides information and advice for patients and families after ICU admission.
The Samaritans Call: 116 123 for free 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Breathing Space Call: 0800 83 85 87 for free Monday to Thursday 6.00pm to 2.00am and Friday 6.00pm to Monday 6.00am
Specific Support for NHSGGC Patients
The NHSGGC Support and Information Service is here to support people while they are in hospital and when they go home. They can support with a wide range of topics including health, lifestyle and well-being to money worries, accessing services including carers support and everything in between. You can find the kiosks on the ground floor in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Royal Hospital for Children, New Stobhill Hospital and the New Victoria Hospital
Information produced by NHSGGC Physiotherapist & Occupational Therapist, NHSGGC InS:pire Programme Team
