Internal quality control (IQC) involves analysis of control material of known concentration within predefined limits. This ensures the quality of the results produced prior to reporting any patient results from the POCT device
What is External Quality Assurance?
External Quality Assurance (EQA) involves analysis of a sample of unknown value from an external, independent source. The results are scrutinised by the EQA scheme provider and allow comparison of results across multiple sites. Participation in EQA allows monitoring of performance and possible early detection of a systematic problem with analysis of patient samples.
Any site wishing to introduce a new POCT service must enrol in a recognised EQA scheme.
Audit
The POCT team will perform audit of the service and provide feedback to the service lead. The audit outcomes and any corrective and preventative action are documented in the laboratory quality management system.
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The NHSGGC Point of Care Testing (POCT) committee meets bi-annually with the aim of policy-making and review of sector POCT groups. The committee also includes Primary Care representation with the aim of guiding appropriate POCT governance in the community. The POCT Co-ordinators management group meets quarterly, with multidisciplinary representation and includes user representation where appropriate. The group focus on implementation and monitoring of POCT activity within each sector.
If you use POCT in your clinical area you must ensure your device is registered with the NHSGGC POCT committee.
What is Point of Care Testing (POCT) Testing?
Point of Care testing is defined as ‘Diagnostic testing that is performed near to or at the site of patient care with the result leading to a possible change in the care of the patient.*’ This normally takes place in a non-laboratory setting by appropriately trained non-laboratory staff.
ISO 227870: 2016 Point of Care Testing (POCT) – Requirements for Quality and Competence.
Potential Advantages of POCT
Rapid turnaround of results
Reduced patient waiting times
Earlier impact on clinical decision making
Financial efficiencies
Less invasive
Smaller sample volumes
Accessibility
Ability to reach remote places
Improved healthcare access
Potential Disadvantages of POCT
Expensive compared to conventional laboratory testing
Cost of consumables, IQC, EQA
Staff resource required at source of testing
Sample quality
Higher rate of pre-analytical errors are associated with POCT due to poor sample quality
Staff Training, competence and documentation
Appropriate training and continued competency checks required to ensure accurate results
POCT may need to be manually entered into patient record which is potentially problematic
Safety
Clear protocols required for infection control, storage and disposal of clinical waste etc.
Point of Care Testing (POCT) Services Offered in NHSGGC
Please note, not all services are available in all sectors.
Allied Health Professions are a crucial part of the NHS, making up one third of the clinical workforce.
Art Therapist
Diagnostic Radiographer
Dietitian
Dramatherapist
Music Therapist
Occupational Therapist
Orthoptist
Orthotist
Paramedic
Physiotherapist
Podiatrist
Prosthetists
Speech and Language Therapist
Therapeutic Radiographer
The Return to Practice process enables you to re-register with the HCPC after a period of time away from your profession. There are many reasons why you may not have practiced such as caring/parental responsibilities, illness, travel or other career routes. We value the skills you have gained whilst you have been away and look forward to your return.
Different requirements apply depending on how long you have been out of professional practice.
NHS Careers Scotland has all the information you need about the steps to re-registration including the links to the HCPC who manage the final step.
Now is the time to return and help to deliver safe and effective care for the people of Scotland.
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IENs and staff who support them should utilise these resources in order to facilitate a learning environment which allows them to consolidate their clinical skills and OSCE preparation course.
To support learning and preparation for OSCEs, all IENs shall receive a copy of the book. If IEN has commenced within your area and has not yet received this, then please contact the PEF or email: practiceeducation@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our first-ever Nursing and Midwifery Strategy, ‘Leading the Way’! To congratulate and thank all of you who helped shape this incredible strategy, we’ve created virtual party bags for all our Nursing and Midwifery colleagues. You can access the contents of your party bag by clicking the link and then the squares.
Please share these party bags widely with your colleagues or use the resources to hold your own celebratory event within your team. Don’t forget to share your pictures with us at ggc.bigconversationsfeedback@nhs.scot.
Also, look out for our NHSGGC Nursing and Midwifery Strategy Promo Video, which is now available on our sharepoint site and can be accessed Here.
Let’s celebrate together and lead the way! 🎉
NES Cultural Humility Learning Resource
The NES Equality, Diversity and Human Right Team developed this digital learning resource to consider how our backgrounds and the backgrounds of others can impact our relationships. Subsequently launched by @NHSScotAcademy, it provides leaners with tools to develop their cultural humility values, attitudes and behaviours. What’s more, learners will benefit from the range of videos, reflective activities, scenarios and a resource pack.
Specifically, the NES Cultural Humility Learning Resource will enable learners to:
Understand the concepts that underpin cultural humility
Identify the key behaviours for supporting an inclusive workplace
Apply a reflective approach aimed at transforming practice in health and social care
The Black And Minority Ethnic (BME) Staff Network was established in 2018. This followed a consultation with key stakeholders about their lived experience. The Network is working closely with the Workforce Equality Group to continuously improve the workplace experience of BME staff. Please click above link for further information.
Presentation for staff supporting IENs (UK based cohort)
LNs/SCNs/DCNs and staff who support IENs (UK based cohort) within the clinical area are invited to the next Internationally Educated Nurse information presentation. Afterward, there will be time for Q & A’s. Both the presentation and Q & A’s will take approximately 1 hr.
This page provides information about drug stigma including how you can help tackle it, resources, and further reading.
What is Drug Stigma?
People who use drugs, people in recovery from drug use, families and communities can experience stigma.
Stigma is the social process of devaluing a person beginning with marking or labelling someone’s differences then attributing negative values to those differences. Stigma is closely linked to prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination. Stigma intersects with other ways people are disempowered and marginalised (ethnicity, gender and sexual identity among others) often increasing risk and harm.
Why should we focus on tackling Drug Stigma?
Tackling stigma and understanding how it connects to other ways people are disadvantaged, is vital to addressing drug related harm, including deaths.
Stigma is one of the biggest barriers people who use drugs can face when accessing any form of treatment and care. That matters a lot because engaging in treatment and care is the biggest protective factor from drug overdose and death.
Tackling stigma at all levels is essential to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for people who use drugs and helps people feel a greater connection to society, more included and more likely to access treatment and support for recovery.
How can you get involved?
Recognising stigma is the first step to tackling it. When you witness stigmatising behaviour, you have a choice about the action you take. Taking action shows that stigmatising behaviour is not acceptable. We don’t all need to be experts, but we all have a role in tackling stigma. Understanding stigma and approaching interactions with kindness and compassion is the key.
Support staff across all sectors to frame conversations about drugs and stigma.
Support staff to reflect on their own practice, knowledge and attitudes.
Provide practical tools to manage difficult conversations and challenge stigma.
Provide education and raise public awareness of the devastating effects of stigma.
Workshop
Videos
Conversation Cards
GGC Stigma Action Group
A GGC Stigma Action Group was established in July 2023. The multi-agency group provides a coordinated approach to tackling the stigma associated with drugs across Greater Glasgow and Clyde. This group has links into the development of a National Stigma Action Plan and is working with local Alcohol and Drug Partnerships to:
Encourage and facilitate open conversations across society to speak about drugs and stigma.
Co- produce anti-stigma work and campaigns with people with lived experience.
Provide opportunities for training and education including how to challenge stigma.
Underpin anti stigma engagement work with human rights and equalities approach.
Prevent stigma by addressing its perpetuation.
If you are interested in joining the GGC Stigma Action group, please please 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 NHS24 on 111.
Advocacy Services
If you or someone you know is affected by alcohol or drugs you can access independent advocacy in your local area:
Help you say what you think about your health care or treatment
Help you understand the care and support process
Challenge decisions about your care and support if you do not agree with them
Stand up for your rights
Write letters for you and attend meetings/appointments with you
Further Reading
We have gathered a range of papers which will provide you with helpful background reading into drug stigma.
National Mission on Drug Deaths: The aim of the National Mission is to reduce drug deaths and improve the lives of those impacted by drugs. This document shows how this will be done.
National Stigma Action Plan: Cross government response to the Drug Deaths Taskforce report, Changing Lives. It contains a cross government action plan, response to Taskforce recommendations and a stigma action plan.
Charter of Rights for People Affected by Substance Use: In December 2024 The National Collaborative published a Charter of Rights for People Affected by Substance Use contributing to Scotland’s National Mission to reduce deaths and improve the lives of those impacted by substances.
Intersectionality
We acknowledge stigma does not exist in isolation. There are many overlapping factors that influence a person’s individual experience of stigma.
These resources provide further guidance on how best to frame our language and communication to tackle stigma when discussing these topics.
How to talk about alcohol – Framing recommendations to deepen understanding of harm and build support for action.
Talking about poverty – A framing toolkit to challenge and change the story about we tell about poverty.
Talking About Community Justice – A framing toolkit that aims to transform the current public narrative and perceptions around community justice
National Trauma Transformation Programme – This website provides access to evidence-based training, tools and guidance to support trauma-informed and responsive systems, organisations and workforces in Scotland.
Please email the team at ggc.mhead@nhs.scot* with any questions about Drug Stigma.
*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.
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Alcohol and Drug Snapshot
Our team produces and circulates a monthly Alcohol and Drug Snapshot that provides a range of information including resources, research articles, reports, events, learning and funding opportunities.
If you would like to sign up to receive our Snapshot, please 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 999or NHS24 on 111.
The NHSGGC Alcohol and Drugs Health Improvement Team are a Greater Glasgow and Clyde wide team who support our colleagues and partners across the six Alcohol and Drug Partnerships to promote alcohol and drug public health and equalities across the six Integrated Health and Social Care partnerships in Greater Glasgow and Clyde – East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, Renfrewshire, and West Dunbartonshire.
We share updates about the work we are undertaking with partners across key priority areas, share useful resources, research and policy information to help you deliver on the alcohol and drug harms agenda. We are part of the wider Mental Health, Alcohol and Drugs Health Improvement Team.
Contact the NHSGGC Alcohol & Drugs Health Improvement Team
Trevor Lakey, Health Improvement and Inequalities Manager – Mental Health, Alcohol and Drugs
Jo McManus, Health Improvement Lead, Drug Prevention and Harm Reduction
Graeme Mathew, Health Improvement Senior, Alcohol Brief Intervention
Please note that these inboxes are not monitored immediately. If you, or someone you know are in distress and need an immediate response call the emergency services on 999 or NHS24 on 111.
Address
Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership Headquarters – Commonwealth House, 32 Albion Street, Glasgow, G1 1LH
Get in touch
If you have any questions about our team or our work, please get in touch with us by emailing 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 999or NHS24 on 111.
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These preceptorship resources will support nurses, midwives and Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (SCPHN) in their transition to new roles and in practice settings. Not only from the point of registration, but also as they progress through their career. Furthermore, they aim to promote consistency in the provision and support offered by preceptorship programmes across Scotland.
Scotland’s Preceptorship Framework
This preceptorship resource has been developed to support nurses, midwives and Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (SCPHN) in their transition to new roles and practice settings from the point of registration and as they progress through their career. Not only does this national resource aim to promote consistency in the provision and support offered by preceptorship programmes across Scotland. It also builds on the NMC Principles for Preceptorship and offers guidance to preceptees, preceptors, managers and the wider organisation.
This NHS Education for Scotland PowerPoint presentation is a preceptorship resource that not only defines preceptorship and outlines why it is needed, but also describes the roles and responsibilities of the preceptee, preceptor and line manager.
Recorded in 2021 to support the launch of the NES Preceptorship resource.
NMC Principles of Preceptorship
The NMC developed the Principles of Preceptorship in recognition of the benefits that a supported, structured period of preceptorship brings to employers, preceptees, and people who use services.
Click here to return to Practice Education’s main page
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Any research taking place in NHS GG&C that doesn’t fit the definition of NHS GG&C Sponsored or Commercially Funded and Sponsored, would be considered to be NHS GG&C Hosted (i.e. All Non Commercial studies that aren’t Sponsored by NHS GG&C). This includes all studies that are academically led by another health board, trust or academic institution (not NHS GG&C and or the University of Glasgow)
All multicentre clinical, health and social care Research and Innovation studies in Scotland require to be submitted to the NHS Research Scotland Permissions Coordinating Centre (NRSPCC) at gram.nrspcc@nhs.scot NRSPCC will upload multicentre studies onto the shared Scottish R&D web based database and make them available to participating Health Boards for review and approval and will ensure single centre studies are available to the relevant R&D office.
All research teams are encouraged to submit their application for NHS R&D management approval in parallel with their application for an ethics committee opinion, as this will help expedite the R&D management approval process
To find the appropriate contact in the R&I Hosted Team for your study, please use the Info Path document available here.
Contact Details
Study Type
Ionising Radiation for combined review of clinical trial of an investigational medicinal product Ionising Radiation and Devices form for combined review of combined trial of an investigational medicinal product and an investigational medical device Clinical investigation or other study of a medical device Other clinical trial to study a novel intervention or randomised clinical trial to compare interventions in clinical practice.
Disease Area
A & E, Trauma & Emergencies Critical Care Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Haematology (Oncology only) Medical Genetics Mental Health (Includes Adolescent Psychiatry, Alcohol/Drugs Misuse, Adult Mental Health, Psychological Medicine/ Clinical Psychology, Family Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry and Learning Disability) Neurology (Non Stroke) (Includes Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, Migraine & Headache) Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Midwifery Oncology Ophthalmology Oral and Dental Health (Includes Oral Medicine, Dentistry/Community Dentistry and Dentistry – Restorative) Pathology.
Hosted Facilitator
Ms Sandi Conway – Research Facilitator sandi.conway@ggc.scot.nhs.uk 0141 314 0221 Line Manager: Dr George Bakirtzis
Anaesthetics Cardiology Cardiovascular & Exercise Medicine Dermatology Diabetes Gastroenterology Haematology (Non Oncology) Heath Services and Delivery Research (Includes Biochemistry, Immunology, Clinical and Medical Physics, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Homeopathy) Hepatology Infectious Diseases Includes Infectious Diseases, Microbiology, Virology) Metabolic and Endocrine) (Includes Dietetics, Metabolic Disease and Human Nutrition) Orthopaedics Public Health (Includes Occupational Health, Sexual Health, Reproductive Health and Family Planning) Physiotherapy Renal and Urology Rheumatology Respiratory Medicine Stroke Surgery
Mrs Karen Puglisevich Chase Research Facilitator Karen.Chase@ggc.scot.nhs.uk 0141 314 0222 Line Manager: Mr Ross Nicol
Study administering questionnaires/interviews for quantitative analysis, or using mixed quantitative/qualitative methodology Study involving qualitative methods only Study limited to working with human tissue samples (or other biological samples) and data (specific project only) Study limited to working with data (specific project only) Research tissue bank or Research database Patient Information Centres (PIC) Basic Science Study involving procedures with human participants
NHSGGC supports the conduct of high-quality commercially Sponsored and Funded research, which allows patient the opportunity to access novel medicines. NHS GG&C currently has the highest volume of Commercial research in Scotland
To find the appropriate contact in the R&I Commercial Team for your study, please use the Info Path document available here.
You can also find contact details for the Commercial Team here
All multicentre clinical, health and social care Research and Innovation studies in Scotland require to be submitted to the NHS Research Scotland Permissions Coordinating Centre (NRSPCC) at gram.nrspcc@nhs.scot NRSPCC will upload multicentre studies onto the shared Scottish R&D web based database and make them available to participating Health Boards for review and approval and will ensure single centre studies are available to the relevant R&D office.
The following links offer more information on the Commercial research approval process in NHS GG&C:
Cardiology Cardiovascular & Exercise Medicine Diabetes Gastroenterology Haematology (Non Oncology) Heath Services and Delivery Research (Includes Biochemistry, Immunology, Clinical and Medical Physics, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Homeopathy) Haepatology Infectious Diseases (Includes Infectious Diseases, Microbiology, Virology and Bacteriology) Metabolic and Endocrine (Includes Dietetics, Metabolic Disease and Human Nutrition) Orthopaedics Public Health (Includes Occupational Health, Sexual Health and Family Planning) Physiotherapy Renal and Urology Rheumatology Respiratory Medicine Surgery (Includes Burns, Plastic Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Vascular Surgery)
NHS GG&C has responsibility to ensure that there are appropriate governance arrangements in place for any commercially funded research, thus ensuring that:
The interests and safety of patients enrolled in trials are protected in all eventualities
All trials are fully costed and that the costs are properly recovered
Maximum benefit is provided to the investigator and to the board
The interests of both the investigator and the board are protected in the event of Intellectual Property arising out of research
Any external regulatory, ethical and financial approvals are obtained
Any risks (liabilities) are properly considered and minimised
The board presents a thoroughly professional approach in its dealings with industry.
In order to ensure Governance of commercial projects, all studies must receive Management approval. Only protocols and trials approved by the R&I Management Office will be covered by the appropriate insurance or NHS indemnity arrangements and the Board will not accept liability for any activity that has not been approved. This website contains a practical guide to help you navigate the R&I process and highlights key steps required to get your research project up and running
Initial R&I Contact and Document Request
Investigators
If you have been approached to participate in a commercial research study your first port of call should be your Research Co-ordinator. The Co-ordinator will be able to advise on the steps required to get up and running, and will take over negotiations over fees and contracts with the company concerned. With your help the Co-ordinator should be able to manage the approval process from start to finish.
Companies
If you would like to run a study within NHS GG&C please contact the relevant Research Co-ordinator who will be able to advise on the best way to submit an R&I application.
Documents
In order to gain R&I approval as quickly as possible, we advise that you submit to R&I as early as possible. We are happy to receive documents as they become available, this will allow us to look at your application and progress quickly. The very minimum we require to start our process is a copy of the protocol and proposed budget.
Engage Support Departments
Once we have identified what support departments will be involved in the study we can contact the relevant personnel for confirmation of costs and approval for research to be conducted within the department
Project Costing
Once a copy of the protocol has been submitted to R&I the Research Co-ordinator can begin costing the project. Costs associated with a research project are calculated on the staff time required and on the allocated price for procedures. The Research Co-ordinator will usually work closely with the research team to ensure that time required to complete the study is accurately captured. The project costing is then sent to R&I finance and the investigator for approval. If required, the Research Co-ordinator can negotiate fees with the commercial company
Commercial Contracts and Agreements
Before any commercial study can proceed within NHS GG&C a written agreement between the Board and the commercial company should be signed by both parties. Contracts should only be negotiated by Research Co-ordinators and are signed by an R&I director. The agreement should define the following:
Scope of work
Acceptable payment arrangements
Important issues such as the right to publish results
Protection of confidential information
Indemnification of third parties.
To help facilitate timely completion of the appropriate contractual documentation, the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and the Department of Health have developed, and published, a model Clinical Trials Agreement (mCTA) as a standard contractual framework for commercial trials involving NHS patients. To incorporate slight differences in Scottish Law and policy, a revised mCTA for use in Scotland has been developed. All legal agreements between the Board and commercial companies should be governed by the laws of Scotland.
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