GP practices across NHSGGC are in the process of moving to a new GP IT system. This change is part of a wider programme to support a major computer upgrade that will see all practices across Scotland using the same GP IT system.
What does this mean for patients?
For most patients, there will be little or no long‑term change to how you access GP services. However, during the changeover period, you may notice some temporary differences for a period of approximately 10 days.
These may include:
Reduced appointment availability on specific days. Please only contact the practice if you require urgent medical assistance on the day
Changes to online services (such as appointment booking or ordering repeat prescriptions)
Delays in processing non‑urgent requests or paperwork
Your GP practice team will do everything they can to minimise disruption and continue to provide safe care.
When will I know if my GP Practice is undergoing this change?
GP Practices will look to contact all patients in advance with as much notice as possible. This page will also list the impacted GP Practices below.
If you have not been contacted or informed of any impact, this change has already happened or will happen in the future.
What does this mean for GP Practice Clinical & Administration teams?
This change represents a significant shift for clinical and administrative teams, who are adapting to new systems and processes while continuing to provide frontline care. Implementing a large‑scale change of this nature takes time, and staff are managing additional complexity as the new arrangements are introduced. We appreciate patients’ understanding during this period of transition.
What is not changing?
You will remain registered with your GP practice.
Urgent care will continue to be available as normal.
Your medical records will be transferred securely.
Routine appointments will be available again to book in the coming weeks.
What can patients do to help?
Contact your practice directly if you have urgent health concerns.
Continue to attend appointments as scheduled unless you are advised otherwise.
If you are due to order a prescription during this time, please submit your request early.
Use online services only as advised by your practice during this period.
Please be patient and understanding if there are short delays.
Thank you for your patience while this important work is carried out to improve GP IT systems for the future.
Timetable of impacted practices
23/04/2026
King Street Surgery
15 King Street, Paisley, PA1 2PS
07/05/2026
Riverview Med Centre
6/8 George Street, Johnstone, PA5 8SL
07/05/2026
ALBA Medical Group Glasgow
Bargaran Centre, Erskine, PA8 6BS & Linden Medical Centre Johnstone, PA5 8PZ
08/05/2026
Eastwoodmains Medical Centre
Eastwood Health & Care Centre 1 Drumby Crescent Clarkston G76 7HN
14/05/2026
Mains Medical Centre
300 Mains Drive, Erskine, PA8 7JQ
Was this helpful?
Yes
No
Thanks for your feedback!
The National Digital Type 2 Diabetes Remission Programme is delivered nationally by Counterweight and is designed to complement existing local remission pathways.
It supports eligible patients with type 2 diabetes to achieve and sustain remission through an evidence-based, structured weight management programme.
Further information is available via the NHS Scotland section of the Counterweight website, which includes educational resources, referral guidance, and medication adjustment information to support safe participation in the programme.
I want to refer my patient
To refer your patient to the National Digital Type 2 Diabetes Remission Programme, please find more information below:
The local NHSGGC Type 2 Diabetes Remission Programme is led by Specialist NHS GGC diabetes dietitians and offers a combination of face-to-face, virtual and telephone consultations.
The programme is for patients who require more personalised or intensive support than the National Digital Type 2 Diabetes Remission Programme can provide.
I would like to refer my patient
An information sheet below outlines the considerations to make when choosing the most appropriate remission programme for your patient, details of eligibility criteria and how to make a referral. Please ensure patients meet all eligibility criteria and have no known medical exclusions.
If your patient meets the eligibility criteria to start the NHSGGC Type 2 Diabetes Remission Programme, they will be screened and supported by the NHSGGC Remission Team for 12 months.
The NHSGGC Remission Team will align them to a local specialist diabetes dietitian who will support them throughout their weight loss journey, helping them achieve remission.
The dietitians from the NHSGGC Remission Team are happy to discuss and advise on individual cases.
Confirm eligibility, including up-to-date HbA1c and blood pressure
Review and advise on medication changes prior to starting the programme (patient to book this appointment; refer to medical management guidance)
Prescribe a 3-month supply of fibre supplement, if clinically appropriate
Provide a blood glucose monitor and one box of strips for patients previously on hypoglycaemic medication, where indicated
During the Programme
Liaise with dietitians regarding medical or medication-related queries, as required
Review and adjust medications if indicated (e.g. in response to changes in blood glucose or blood pressure)
Support patients in arranging HbA1c testing at approximately 3 and 6 months
Receive written updates on patient progress, including notification of withdrawal where applicable
Post-Programme
Support HbA1c testing at 12 months
Continue routine annual diabetes care
Receive a summary of patient progress and outcomes at 12 months
Ongoing Communication and Monitoring
Raise any clinical concerns with the dietitian as appropriate
Patients are responsible for self-monitoring (blood glucose, blood pressure, weight) and for reporting concerns to the dietitian and/or GP practice
Dietitians will contact the GP where medication review is indicated; prescribing decisions remain the responsibility of the GP
GP practices will be kept informed of patient progress throughout the programme
Additional Information
Dietitians can provide weighing scales and blood pressure monitors if required
The programme will be evaluated in line with the Scottish Government framework, with quarterly reporting
What does the programme involve for my patient
Please explain to your patient that they will receive a programme information leaflet and a letter inviting them to book an appointment in the programme.
Following your patient booking an appointment with the NHSGGC Remission Team they will be screened to ensure they are suitable for the programme.
The referrer will also receive a notification on the outcome of the referral via letter.
If your patient is suitable, they will be fully supported by the NHGSGGC Remission Team in preparation to commence the programme detailed below.
Stage 1 – Total Diet Replacement (12 weeks)
All meals are replaced with nutritionally balanced soups and shakes (providing around 850 calories per day)
Stage 2 – Food Reintroduction (12 weeks)
Gradual return to everyday foods and support with healthy eating and lifestyle habits.
Stage 3 – Weight Maintenance (6 months)
Ongoing support to help with building sustainable lifestyle habits and maintaining weight loss.
Where does the programme take place
Patients have the option of a mixture of in person, video or telephone calls.
There are clinics located across the Board.
Was this helpful?
Yes
No
Thanks for your feedback!
The National Digital Type 2 Diabetes Remission Programme is an NHS funded, 12 month, clinically proven, weight management programme supporting people with type 2 diabetes to achieve remission across Scotland.
To learn about the programme, please click on link below:
To find out more and check whether this programme might be right for you, please speak to your GP or diabetes care team.
Was this helpful?
Yes
No
Thanks for your feedback!
If you are eligible for the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Type 2 Diabetes Remission Programme, you will be invited to book an appointment with the team to learn more about the programme.
If suitable to start the programme, you will be supported by a Specialist Diabetes Dietitian for the 12-month programme. The programme is designed to help you safely lose weight and build healthier lifestyle habits for the future.
The programme is free of charge for all patients.
What the programme involves
Stage 1 – Total Diet Replacement (12 weeks)
All meals are replaced with nutritionally balanced soups and shakes (providing around 850 calories per day)
Stage 2 – Food Reintroduction (12 weeks)
Gradual return to everyday foods and support with healthy eating and lifestyle habits.
Stage 3 – Weight Maintenance (6 months)
Ongoing support to help with building sustainable lifestyle habits and maintaining weight loss.
Your GP or diabetes care team will be involved and support any required medication changes.
Further Information
Are you suitable for this programme
You may be suitable if:
You are aged between 18 – 65 years old
You have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the last 6 years
You are above a healthy weight, with a BMI between 27-45kg/m2 for individuals from white ethnic groups or 25-45kg/m2 for individuals from Black, Asian and other ethnic groups
Your HbA1c (average blood glucose) is above
48mmol/mol if you are not taking diabetes medication
43mmol/mol if you are taking diabetes medication
You feel ready and motivated to make changes to your diet and lifestyle
You feel ready to commit to a 12-month programme, including attending regular appointments with the dietitian
Please note if you are on insulin, you are not suitable for the programme and other exclusion criteria may apply.
Where the programme takes place
Appointments are flexible and can be a mixture of in person, video or telephone calls.
How to refer yourself to the programme
If you would like to explore whether you are eligible for this programme:
Please speak to your GP or diabetes care team and they can arrange a referral if appropriate.
Was this helpful?
Yes
No
Thanks for your feedback!
Take control of your health and diabetes
Type 2 diabetes doesn’t have to be a lifelong condition. Research shows that by losing 10 kilograms to 15 kilograms, many people can achieve diabetes remission and improve their long-term health.
While remission is a realistic goal for many adults with type 2 diabetes, not everyone will meet the eligibility criteria for the programmes offered.
What is diabetes remission?
Diabetes remission means your blood glucose (sugar) levels return to a non-diabetes range without needing diabetes medication.
Not everyone will achieve remission, but many people who take part experience huge improvements in their health, weight, energy levels, and overall wellbeing.
Remission is not a cure. Diabetes can return, particularly if weight is regained. However, with the right support and ongoing lifestyle changes, many people can keep their diabetes well controlled for years.
For more information on type 2 diabetes remission watch the below video.
As part of your diabetes treatment plan, your GP can discuss the different programmes available to you. Please click the options below to find out more about the programmes.
There are two Type 2 Diabetes Remission programmes available for your patients. The treatment intervention, duration and eligibility criteria are the same across both programmes.
NHSGGC Type 2 Diabetes Remission Programme
The local programme is led by Specialist Diabetes Dietitians. The local programme is suited to individuals who require the option of face-to-face consultations, have limited digital literacy and would benefit from additional clinical support. The local programme is led by Specialist Diabetes Dietitians.
To find out more information about the NHSGGC Type 2 Diabetes Remission programme and if your patient meets the eligibility criteria please click below link:
National Digital Type 2 Diabetes Remission Programme
The National digital programme is delivered by Counterweight health coaches and dietitians. Patients will have access to a digital application, health monitoring resources, personalised coaching and peer support.
To find out more information about the National Digital Type 2 Diabetes Remission Programme and if your patient meets the eligibility criteria please click below.
If your patient does not meet the eligibility criteria or is not suitable for Type 2 Diabetes Programmes please consider a referral to the Glasgow and Clyde Weight Management Service.
These pages are currently being reviewed and have not yet been officially published.
Primary Care is the front door to healthcare in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, providing essential, first‑contact services to more than 1.3 million people across the region.
From GPs and community pharmacies to dental and optometry services, Primary Care plays a vital role in prevention, early intervention, and supporting people to access the right care, in the right place.
Our Primary Care Strategy outlines how we will continue to strengthen these services, improve access, reduce inequalities, and work collaboratively with partners and communities.
Video Message from the Director of Primary Care
Primary Care Strategy
Primary Care Strategy 2024–2029 – Full Version
Primary Care Strategy 2024–2029 – Executive Summary / Public Facing Version
Easy Read Version
Any additional related implementation or engagement documents as appropriate.
Faces of Primary Care
These professionals are part of your Primary Care team. To help you feel confident in seeking the right help, we’ve highlighted some of our NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Primary Care roles.
Click on each one below to learn more about their roles, how they can assist you, and how you can reach them.
Remember, it’s also important to utilise the resources available to you when you have a health concern. Before contacting any healthcare professional, consider using online resources, as your symptoms might be manageable at home. Helpful tools include symptom finder on NHS Inform and the NHS 24 app.
If you’d like to learn more about what our Weight Management Service offers, you can download our Service Information Leaflet below.
You can also speak to your healthcare professional (Nurse, GP, Dietitian, or Physiotherapist) about the service and referral options. Once a referral is made, our staff will then contact you to send you to the most appropriate service option – Self-Help, Community, or Specialist – and answer any questions you may have.
Community Weight Management offers a free 12-week membership to either Slimming World or Weight Watchers to help you lose weight in a safe, sustainable and realistic way.
This gives you access to a blend of in-person and online support which includes:
Weekly face to face or online sessions
A timetable of virtual sessions
Free access to an app offering food planners, activity and weight loss trackers
Online, quick, simple and healthy recipes
Equipment-free, easy workouts
24/7 access to a social community
Patients who have used this service say it’s been life-changing, guiding them on a journey to learn new habits that make losing weight safe, simple, and sustainable.
What is Specialist Weight Management?
The Specialist Weight Management Service is delivered by a team of dieticians, psychologists and physiotherapists.
Psychological approaches and physical activity guidance are provided alongside dietary advice, tailored to your needs.
This approach will help you identify ways to overcome barriers to weight loss.
Weight loss medication and surgery may be considered as part of the programme where appropriate.
If you’d like to learn more about the Specialist Weight Management Service visit:
You can self-refer to the service if you have a BMI over 25 (22.5 for patients with South Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern ethnicity) and are living with diabetes, heart disease, or have experienced a stroke. To get started, simply complete the self-referral form below and our staff will be in touch to guide you through the next steps.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Weight Management Service currently does not prescribe weight loss injectable medications (such as GLP‑1 medications) and cannot provide a route to accessing these within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Injectable incretin treatments (also known as weight management medicines and by brand names such as Mounjaro® and Wegovy® ) help support weight loss in patients with high Body Mass Index (BMI). These treatments include a type called Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists or GLP1 for short.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is aware that some patients are accessing these treatments from private (non-NHS) suppliers and would like to provide some additional information which may be helpful to your care.
Use of these medicines works best for patients who are obese (BMI of over 30, or over 27 with a weight-related health condition) and will help a controlled loss of weight. There is no evidence to support use in people who are a healthy weight or for use as an aid for short term weight loss.
Prescription Only Medicines
These medications are prescription-only and must be prescribed by a registered healthcare professional. They should only be used by the person named on the prescription and under medical supervision.
Using someone else’s medication is unsafe and illegal.
When used correctly and for the right reasons, these treatments are safe. However, using them without proper medical oversight, especially in people with a healthy or low BMI, is associated with clinical risk, as the side effects and effectiveness in these groups are unknown.
Private Supplies of Weight Management Medication
If you choose to get weight management medication from a private provider, it’s important to make sure:
The provider is legally registered, and the medication is licensed.
You do not buy from unlicensed sources like beauty salons or social media.
You speak to a healthcare professional before starting treatment.
Private providers do not have access to your full medical history, so they must carry out a full risk assessment before prescribing. The safest way to make sure your medication is legal and safe is to have it dispensed by a registered pharmacy.
If you are using weight management medication from a private source, please tell your GP practice. It is the responsibility of the private provider to assess whether these are safe for you to use, your GP practice does not have capacity to double check this assessment. The practice will usually add these on to your medicines record. This helps keep your medical records up to date and ensures any other treatments you receive are safe and appropriate—especially if your weight changes or you’re prescribed other medications.
Counterfeit Medicines
There are also reports of counterfeit versions of these medicines. These are illegal and may not contain the correct ingredients or doses. Using counterfeit medicines can be dangerous, as there is no quality control or guarantee of safety.
Who Should Not Use These Medications?
These treatments are being considered for people with a BMI of 38 or higher with at least one obesity-related condition (as per Scottish Government Phase 1 rollout guidance). NHSGGC are working to establish pathways for patients who will meet this criteria.
They are not suitable for weight management for people with:
A history of pancreatitis
Severe kidney or liver disease
Frailty or advanced age
Severe mental health conditions
Diabetic eye disease which requires treatment.
T2 diabetes on insulin unless under the supervision of a diabetes specialist team.
T1 diabetes.
These medications should not be used during pregnancy, while trying to conceive, or when breastfeeding.
Using these medications without proper medical supervision can worsen existing health problems and lead to serious side effects.
Drug Interactions
Some medications can interact with weight management medicines, so it is important patients are aware of the risks. As private providers must carry out a full health assessment before prescribing, this will check for any risks or interactions with other medications. Some GP practices have reported that patients were not informed about important interactions, such as with contraception.
Contraception
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.
Women are advised to use a non-oral contraceptive (e.g. patch, implant, IUD) for 4 weeks after starting or increasing the dose.
Women of childbearing age should use effective contraception during treatment and for a few months after stopping.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
These medicines may affect how well oral HRT works.
Patches or vaginal products are preferred for oestrogen, as they bypass the stomach.
It’s unclear if progesterone in HRT is affected.
Other Medications
Because these medicines slow down how quickly the stomach empties, they can affect how other medicines are absorbed. This includes:
Warfarin (blood thinner)
Digoxin (used for heart conditions)
These medicines may need closer monitoring to ensure the dose remains safe. Please speak to your pharmacist for advice.
Side Effects
Like most medicines, weight loss medicines can cause side effects. The most common ones include:
Nausea
Vomiting
Constipation or diarrhoea
Headache
These side effects are usually mild and go away on their own. If they don’t improve or get worse, patients should get medical advice, ideally from the healthcare professional who prescribed the medication.
Serious Side Effects
A rare but serious side effect is pancreatitis. If you experience severe stomach pain that spreads to your back and doesn’t go away, get urgent medical help.
Tips for Safe Use
To reduce side effects and support your health while on treatment:
Stay well hydrated
Eat small, regular meals
Include protein in each meal
Stay active to maintain muscle
Eat a varied diet to avoid nutrient deficiencies
Drug Safety Updates
Drug Safety Updates (DSU) – Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency
We use cookies to analyse traffic to our site and to enable certain functions such as forms and YouTube videos. These do not collect personal information. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to our use of cookies, or you can customise the options.
This website uses cookies
Websites store cookies to enhance functionality and personalise your experience. You can manage your preferences, but blocking some cookies may impact site performance and services.
Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website.
Name
Description
Duration
Cookie Preferences
This cookie is used to store the user's cookie consent preferences.
30 days
CloudFlare provides web performance and security solutions, enhancing site speed and protecting against threats.
Sequence rules uses cookies to track the order of requests a user has made and the time between requests and makes them available via Cloudflare Rules. This allows you to write rules that match valid or invalid sequences. The specific cookies used to validate sequences are called sequence cookies.
session
cf_ob_info
The cf_ob_info cookie provides information on: The HTTP Status Code returned by the origin web server. The Ray ID of the original failed request. The data center serving the traffic
session
cf_chl_rc_m
These cookies are for internal use which allows Cloudflare to identify production issues on clients.
session
__cfruid
Used by the content network, Cloudflare, to identify trusted web traffic.
session
__cf_bm
Cloudflare's bot products identify and mitigate automated traffic to protect your site from bad bots. Cloudflare places the __cf_bm cookie on End User devices that access Customer sites that are protected by Bot Management or Bot Fight Mode. The __cf_bm cookie is necessary for the proper functioning of these bot solutions.
session
__cflb
When enabling session affinity with Cloudflare Load Balancer, Cloudflare sets a __cflb cookie with a unique value on the first response to the requesting client. Cloudflare routes future requests to the same origin, optimizing network resource usage. In the event of a failover, Cloudflare sets a new __cflb cookie to direct future requests to the failover pool.
session
_cfuvid
The _cfuvid cookie is only set when a site uses this option in a Rate Limiting Rule, and is only used to allow the Cloudflare WAF to distinguish individual users who share the same IP address.
session
cf_clearance
Whether a CAPTCHA or Javascript challenge has been solved.
session
cf_use_ob
The cf_use_ob cookie informs Cloudflare to fetch the requested resource from the Always Online cache on the designated port. Applicable values are: 0, 80, and 443. The cf_ob_info and cf_use_ob cookies are persistent cookies that expire after 30 seconds.
session
__cfwaitingroom
The __cfwaitingroom cookie is only used to track visitors that access a waiting room enabled host and path combination for a zone. Visitors using a browser that does not accept cookies cannot visit the host and path combination while the waiting room is active.
session
cf_chl_rc_i
These cookies are for internal use which allows Cloudflare to identify production issues on clients.
session
cf_chl_rc_ni
These cookies are for internal use which allows Cloudflare to identify production issues on clients.
