There are many different factors which lead young people to smoke, but the extent to which tobacco is prominent, normal or accepted around them plays a crucial part.
Quit Your Way Youth and school resources aim to provide young people with information about smoking and tobacco to allow them to make informed decisions. The resources provide young people with easy access to the facts about smoking and information on how to access local support to stop smoking.
Quit Your Way Youth Resources covers the following:
Stop Smoking Support for young people
Prevention and Education: resources and support for schools and youth organisations
Policy guidance for schools and youth organisations
Protecting families and communities from second hand smoke
Research and partnership working in tobacco prevention and control
Greater Glasgow and Clyde has produced a briefing paper to highlight the key evidence, concerns and advice around vaping, which will benefit parents, carers and any staff who work with young people. You can download our briefing paper and a condensed version of the briefing paper below:
The Jenny and the Bear resource is a story which is part of a coordinated programme and aims to increase awareness about the effects of second hand smoke on children and what parents/carers can do to ensure their children are not exposed to its harmful effects.
The programme is aimed at Primary 1 classes and consists of a story being read to the class followed by a classroom activity to agree a name for the bear in the story, which is then entered into the competition to win a Teddy Bear mascot for their classroom. All children who take part in the programme will be given a booklet version of the story to take home.
The second hand smoke message also links with the Scottish Government national “Take it right outside” campaign. See www.rightoutside.org for further information.
Programme Registration
.Registration for the 2024/2025 programme is now open.
Also known as the Flow Navigation Centre, you can use this service to get quick, direct access to emergency care, either through a video or telephone consultation.
You can receive treatment from the comfort of home, without having to visit a busy A&E department.
When to use the Flow Navigation Centre
If you think you need to go to A&E, but it’s not life-threatening, and you can’tspeak to a GP, you can access the Flow Navigation Centre. To do so, call NHS 24 on 111.
The NHS24 triage team may feel you could benefit from a virtual A&E appointment and will refer you directly. Depending on your needs, they will provide more appropriate advice and treatment options.
If you get an appointment with the Flow Navigation Centre, a team of emergency care nurses and medics will provide you with a virtual, or telephone consultation.
Just like a physical A&E, after your consultation a number of things can happen:
You may receive self-care advice and told to phone back if your symptoms worsen
If you require physical treatment, you could be given a scheduled arrival time at one of our A&Es or Minor Injuries Units
You may be referred to a more appropriate specialist service.
The Flow Navigation Centre operates seven days a week and covers the whole of NHSGGC.
If your condition is life threatening, you should always call 999 or go straight to your nearest A&E.
Dementia is an illness that affects the brain, making it harder to remember things or think as clearly as before. Dementia can affect every area of human thinking, feeling and behaviour, but each person with dementia is different – how the illness affects someone depends on which area of their brain is damaged.
There are different kinds of dementia. The most common are Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia
In Alzheimer’s disease brain cells deteriorate through the build-up of a protein; vascular dementia is caused by problems in the supply of blood to brain cells. Many cases of dementia are caused by a mix of vascular damage and Alzheimer’s disease. Lewy body dementia is the next most frequently occurring illness, with fronto-temporal dementia then more commonly occurring in younger people.
Dementia is a common condition and there are around 90,000* people living with dementia in Scotland (*Alzheimer Scotland estimate for 2017). The older you are, the more chance there is of you getting dementia. When dementia occurs under the age of 65 years it is commonly referred to as Young Onset Dementia.
More Information
Worried About your Memory
Sometimes people are afraid that forgetfulness is the start of something else, like dementia. This can worry older people especially. People who have had a relative with dementia may also be particularly anxious about memory problems. Your memory may be nothing to worry about, as forgetfulness can be caused by a number of things such as chest or urinary infections, depression and the side effects of some medication. However, it is also important to seek help if you think you or someone you know may have dementia.
The Alzheimer Society also have useful information here. If you have concerns then you should phone your GP surgery to make an appointment. People with symptoms of dementia will receive a number of tests, which will be carried out by your GP, specialists and/or a Psychiatrist.
If you are diagnosed with dementia, your future health and care needs should be assessed and a care plan developed with you. It is important to remember that this is your care plan and should be used to find out what is important for you and what helps to keep you well and active. You should ask as many questions as you want and make sure that your wishes are known.
For more information about different ways in which dementia affects a person, you can look at Alzheimer Scotland’s leaflet 5 things you should know about dementia. This leaflet provides an overview of how dementia is caused as well as what options are available to support you or a relative to live well with dementia.
Many people live active and fulfilling lives with dementia, and more information from the Scottish Dementia Working Group can be found here.
If you receive a diagnosis of dementia you will be supported by a dementia link worker for at least a year to help you. This is called post-diagnosis support.
The Scottish Government have introduced a Five Pillars Model for post-diagnostic support which includes:-
Understanding the illness and managing symptoms
Planning for future and decision making
Supporting community connections
Peer support
Planning for future care
Your dementia link worker will work with you, your carers and/or family to help provide practical and emotional support following a diagnosis of dementia and help to link you into the services you may need and help plan for the future. Everyone experiences dementia differently and your link worker will provide person-centred support that suits your own individual needs.
Living well with Dementia
Living a healthy lifestyle is important for everyone, including people with dementia, and is the best way to continue to live well with dementia. Eating well and exercising are important for everyone. When you visit your GP, you should ask for advice on self-care; this should also be included in your care plan.
Keeping in contact with friends and family is important. It is also good to keep doing the things we enjoy and which make us unique individuals, whether gardening, walking or watching the football. With a little bit of support or adaptation, people with dementia should continue to enjoy their hobbies and interests.
You can live a good life with dementia – putting your affairs in order early on, and keeping well and as active as you can will help you live independently for as long as possible. If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it – from family and friends, professionals like doctors, nurses, and social workers, and organisations like your local council or Alzheimer Scotland.
As your needs change and when you require more help, additional support can be provided through services such as your local Social Work office or Older Adults Mental Health Team (see Find out more). Services such as home care, respite, community psychiatric nurses or occupational therapists will work with you to keep you as independent as possible.
Dementia Friendly Exercises
NHSGGC Mental Health Physiotherapists, with funding from Alzheimer Scotland, have developed two resources on dementia friendly exercises for strength and balance.
Physiotherapists say these exercises can help improve co-ordination and balance.
Alzheimer Scotland’s Living with dementia webpage has further information and resources.
Symptoms of dementia
There are varying symptoms across the different types of dementia; however, you should look out for declining ability in:
Thinking
Memory
Understanding
Judgement
Behaviour
Language.
The symptoms of dementia often develop slowly over time and can cause increased difficulty in doing everyday activities such as cooking, shopping or handling money. Each person living with dementia is unique and will experience the illness in their own way. Different types of dementia tend to affect people differently, especially in the early stages. Dementia can also affect how we feel about things. This includes changes in mood, becoming become anxious and withdrawn, frustrated or irritable, easily upset or unusually sad.
Looking after someone with…Dementia
If someone you know is becoming increasingly forgetful or showing symptoms of dementia, you should encourage them to see their GP to talk about the early signs of dementia. If you, or a family member, has dementia, you may find it difficult to stay positive. Remember that you are not alone, and that help and support is available from local carers’ services. Support can include:
Income maximization
Emotional support
Short breaks
Advocacy
Training
Information and advice
Peer support
Health checks for carers.
Dementia link workers will work with you and the person you are caring for together.
The video below tells you more about the types of help that are available.
The It’s Ok to Ask DVD was produced by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow City Council, The Alliance and Alzheimer Scotland in 2014.
People with dementia may find themselves admitted to hospital. If you are coming into hospital there are a few things you can do to make your admission and stay easier, this video may help.
A useful document called Getting to Know Me has been developed by Alzheimer Scotland’s network of Dementia Nurse Consultants and the Scottish Government. It aims to give hospital staff a better understanding of patients with dementia who are admitted either for planned treatment, such as an operation or in an emergency.
The document should be filled in by the person with dementia as much as possible, or by a family carer or relative, with the help of hospital staff if necessary. It is then held with the person’s notes so it is readily accessible to all staff working with that individual.
It asks for brief information about the person: their likes and dislikes, their background, what they like to be called, the important people or places in the person’s life, what helps them relax, how they take their medication, their normal routines, if they wear glasses or a hearing aid, what they like to do for themselves and what they need help with. There is also space for the carer to add in the relevant information they think the staff should know to help them provide the best care possible and to understand any behavioural issues the person might have.
It is important to organise your legal and financial affairs by applying for a Power of Attorney.
Your Health and Social Care Partnership may also hold local / locality specific information on dementia help. Links to their main websites are listed below.
Asking and responding to patients’ money worries is part of Inequalities Sensitive Practice, which is about taking into account each patient’s social circumstances and how they are affecting their health. It also relates to person centred care.
Advice On Money Worries – Who is it for?
Money advice support is for patients, parents/carers or staff of all ages, regardless of their working status.
Why is it important?
With the recession and changes to the benefits system, many of our patients are experiencing money difficulties and mounting debts. The COVID-19 pandemic has also created additional financial worries for many people.
This is important to health services as in addition to being a cause of poor health, money worries can also be a barrier to engaging fully with our services.
“I observe this again and again – that I cannot address medical issues as I have to deal with the patients’ agenda first, which is getting money to feed and heat.” GP
By asking a simple question and providing assistance on where to get help, we can do a lot to prevent unnecessary worry and anxiety.
The Improvement Service provide a short film aimed at healthcare professionals outlining the link between poor health and money worries.
Money Worries: In Sickness & In Health
What Kind of Advice is Available?
If your patients are facing financial difficulties, they should not pay for advice. You can help your patients to use the free, high quality services available across NHSGGC which offer help with:
Maximising Income
Debt Advice
Benefits
Savings
Banking
Budgeting
Evidence shows that referring patients to these services can result in improved mental health, increased income, debt reduction, increased financial planning and reduced stress.
How Do I Ask About Money Worries?
If done sensitively, patients value being asked about money problems and referred to Money Advice Services. It only takes a few minutes to do and can be incorporated easily into patient assessment as part of a person centred approach. Most NHSGGC assessment forms cover money worries.
“Do you have any money or debt worries?
“Would you like to speak with an advisor to discuss money worries or help you to claim any benefits that you may be entitled to?”
“Is having a baby adding financial pressure?”
These type of standard questions for introducing the topic of money worries are used in the community setting. Similar questions are used in hospitals, where staff need to establish whether the patients has any immediate work/money related concerns as a result of their health condition.
If you are working with groups of people it is good practice to discuss people’s health in the context of their life circumstances. Money and debt worries are a major issue for many people and should always be covered in these discussions.
How Do I Make a Referral?
Where patients have issues relating to money worries and debt, the role of staff is to:
The Money Helper website offers information and advice on budget planning and improving your finances, including tools and calculators to help you plan ahead.
Gender-Based Violence (National Guidelines)
What Health Workers Need to Know
This guidance is intended for use by service managers and staff members who, in the course of their work, are involved in identifying and responding to gender-based violence.
Gender-based Violence National Guidelines – What health workers need to know
If you require this or any other NHS information in another format, such as large print or braille, or in another language, please use the contact details on your patient leaflet or letter or contact us.
Spoken Language – Face to Face or Telephone Interpreting
You are entitled to interpreting support for all NHS services, including hospital and GP appointments, dentists, opticians, chiropodists, pharmacists etc. A member of staff must provide the interpreter for you.
Patients can now also access the telephone interpreting service to contact any NHSGGC service. For example, you can use the telephone interpreting service to make an appointment with your GP, discuss medications with your Pharmacy, book a Maternity appointment or contact NHS 24.
An information leaflet is available in multiple languages. It explains how to use the service by calling or by using a mobile app. It provides codes specific to NHSGGC services so can only be used for this purpose. Use this link to find the language you need.
British Sign Language – Face to Face or Online Interpreting Services
NHSGGC must ensure that BSL interpreting support is provided for you when you use our services. Please make sure your Clinician/GP knows that you need interpreting support so that they can arrange this with as much notice as possible.
The BSL Online interpreting service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This means that in an unplanned or emergency situation, staff can quickly link up to an interpreter at any time and communicate with their Deaf patient. It can also be used during hospital stays, or to enable Deaf patients to communicate with staff if waiting for a face to face interpreter to arrive. BSL Online is now available at hospital sites across NHSGGC.
Video recording of NHSGGC Care Homes webinar 12th May 2022
The Healthier Wealthier Children (HWC) project continues to provide evidence of financial gain, debt reduction and reduced stress for NHS patients.
Since its launch in 2010, this NHS led child poverty initiative has resulted in over £60 million pounds going back into the pockets of local families with over 45,000 referrals to money advice services from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde staff.
The initiative has meant that many people are now receiving welfare benefits they were unaware they were entitled to. Debts have been written off and sanctions appealed successfully. Families have had access to grants and assistance with dealing with food and fuel poverty.
All NHSGGC midwives, health visitors, family nurses and specialist children’s service are now asking about money and debt worries routinely and referring to money advice services as part of day to day care.
The project has now been mainstreamed across all NHSGGC areas:
maintaining Children & Families referral pathways to money advice services
awareness sessions on money worries, child poverty and welfare reform for NHS staff
monitoring outcomes of the Healthier Wealthier Children approach
mainstreaming group work programmes
In addition, from October 2021 there is a national roll-out of primary care money advice for areas of highest deprivation. Some patients with children will access this service. NHSGGC has five Health & Social Care Partnerships involved: East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire.
The Healthier Wealthier Children model is cited as a requirement of Scotland’s Child Poverty action plan and similar models have been developed in London as as far afield as Sweden and Australia.
