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Equality & Human Rights Team – Further Information
The members of the Equality & Human Rights Team are:
- Beatrix Von Wissmen – Strategic Lead for Equality & Human Rights Team
- Alastair Low – Interim Equality & Human Rights Team Manager
- Noreen Shields – Planning and Development Manager
- Julian Heng – Planning and Development Manager
- Louise Carroll – Programme Development Manager
- Susan Thompson – Communications Manager
- Nuzhat Mirza – Engagement Development Specialist
- Mhairi Mcculloch – Equality & Human Rights Practitioner
- Martin Patterson – Equality & Human Rights Practitioner
- Jacqueline Fairweather – Equality & Human Rights Practitioner
- Paul Hull – Health Improvement Specialist – Deaf Community
- Jacky Russell – Equality & Human Rights Admin Support
- Helen Macgillvray – Equality & Human Rights Admin Support
Contact Information
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
West House
Gartnavel Royal Hospital
1055 Great Western Road
Glasgow, G12 0ZH
- Telephone: 07970 006631
Contact Form
If you have questions or comments regarding NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s work on equality issues, please contact us using the form below.
Please be aware that this is a general inbox.
Human Rights Laws in Scotland
The Human Rights Act 1998 came into force in October 2000. It is one of the main ways that internationally-recognised human rights are given legal effect in the UK. The Act has a 20-year track record of delivering justice and rights for all, including for some of the most vulnerable people in society.
The Act means that vitally important safeguards set out in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) are available to everyone. In particular, all public organisations, such as NHSGGC, must act in accordance with the rights of the Convention.
The second Scottish National Action Plan on Human Rights was published in 2022. The Scottish Government, Public Sector organisations and charities have increased the focus on human rights due to issues arising from the pandemic, welfare reform, austerity and the recession.
Human rights to health, non-discrimination, food, fuel, income, employment, shelter, safety, relationships and citizenship are at risk for many people.
What are my human rights? mygov.scot
NHSGGC and Human Rights
NHSGGC has incorporated human rights as an integral part of:
- Equality Impact Assessments of strategies, policies, service redesigns, service developments and cost savings
- Key NHSGGC resources for patients
- Staff training
There are also a range of specific actions around implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in NHSGGC. The Convention sets out the essential rights of all children. The UNCRC Bill became law in Scotland in 2024 and is used as a framework to ensure that we consider children and young people’s rights whenever we make decisions that may impact on them. NHSGGC has incorporated the principles of the new law into our Equality Impact Assessments which are used to ensure our services and policies are meeting the requirements of equality law.
Useful Resources
Scottish Human Rights Commission health and social care case studies
Public Health Scotland Health inequalities: Human rights and the right to health
The Alliance: Being Human – a human rights based approach to health and social care
Documents
Children’s version of the Convention on the Rights of the Child | UNICEF
Campaigns
Stand Against Racism Campaign
We Stand Against Hate – how to report a hate crime
NHS Scotland Pride Badge – Make the pledge and wear the badge with pride
Pledge to Be Seen Campaign
Publications & Resources
Just published – ‘A Fairer NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’ 2025-29 (PDF) For further information, visit our web page.
Tip Cards – produced in response to staff requests, these offer tips on communicating and supporting our diverse communities. For hard copies contact us.
Direct Patient Access to Telephone Interpreting – This new resource explains in multiple languages how to access the telephone interpreting service to contact any NHSGGC service. For example, patients can use the service to call from home and make an appointment with their GP, discuss medications with their Pharmacy or book a Maternity appointment.
Training
Protected Characteristics
- Age
- Disability
- Gender Reassignment
- Marriage & Civil Partnership
- Pregnancy & Maternity
- Race & Ethnicity
- Religion or Belief
- Sex & Gender
- Sexual Orientation
Marginalised Groups
For some groups of people, a combination of factors such as discrimination, prejudice, stigma and life circumstances, steadily increase their risk of poor health.
Some groups are protected by equality laws. Many use health services where their additional needs can be met through Inequalities Sensitive Practice.
Some groups cross over into the protected characteristics listed above, such as Asylum Seekers & Refugees and Gypsy Travellers who are included in the NHSGGC Ant-Racism Plan.
The Scottish Government has produced its second British Sign Language National Plan 2024-30, as required by the BSL (Scotland) Act 2015. It sets out actions for the next four years to help realise Scotland’s ambition to be the best place in the world for BSL users to live, work and visit. Other public bodies, including NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (NHSGGC), have now published their own, local BSL plans for this period.
In putting together our local plan, we consulted with our Deaf BSL patients to gather opinions and ideas. This included patient group involvement, BSL local events, Facebook feedback and an event for Deafblind people.
- NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde British Sign Language Plan 2024-2030 (PDF)
- NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde British Sign Language Plan 2024-2030 – BSL Version
NHSGGC is already involved a range of activities to help raise awareness amongst patients and staff about BSL as a language and culture and to make sure our patients have access to BSL interpreting whenever they need it.
BSL Interpreting Service
It is the responsibility of NHSGGC staff to book an interpreter for patients attending any of our healthcare services.
BSL Online Interpreting
Deaf Awareness sessions
We can offer a short deaf awareness session that can be delivered online or face to face. The session lasts 30 minutes and is open to all staff.
The learning session covers how to work with BSL interpreters, deafness as a cultural identity and exploring BSL as a language as its own right. This learning will enable staff to communicate more confidently with our Deaf patients and ultimately provide the best possible care.
For more information please contact Paul Hull Paul.Hull@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Deafness and Mental Health
Deaf people can be at higher risk of mental health problems due to communication barriers and isolation. We also know from talking to Deaf patients that they face barriers to accessing mental health services because of a lack of information in British Sign Language and understanding of Deaf culture in general. NHSGGC wants to improve access to mental health services and ensure that they are the best they can be for the Deaf community. We have recently introduced a glossary of BSL signs for mental health on our BSL You Tube channel.
Peer Support Worker for Deaf people
A Deaf Mental Health Peer Support Worker has been employed to work across 5 Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT) in Greater Glasgow & Clyde. They will use their lived experience to support patients from the Deaf community in accessing CMHT’s and also in their own recovery journey.
The Peer Support Worker is part of the multi-disciplinary team in Adult Mental Health Services with in-reach to patients whilst in hospital. It is hoped that this support may help patients avoid admission to hospital or reduce the length of stay.
Mental Health A-Z Guide
BSL – You Tube channel
- A wide range of information is available in BSL on our NHSGGC You Tube channel.
Translated materials
Translated versions of any NHSGGC resource or information relating to individual clinical care can be obtained by asking a member of staff. General health information in also available from British Sign Language (BSL) | NHS inform
Staff can request information in BSL via the Clear to All web page.
Learn Basic BSL
Our popular beginner’s BSL classes are regularly offered to NHSGGC staff.
The six week course offers an insight into how Deaf people communicate and covers the alphabet, how to introduce yourself, colours, numbers and role playing.
See our Staff Training page for current courses.
BSL Health Champions
The BSL Health Champions are a group of volunteers from the Deaf BSL community who are patients of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The Champions advise NHSGGC about the main issues and concerns for BSL patients when using our hospitals and other health services. They also work with us to make information about health accessible for BSL users.
Group meetings are public and any Deaf BSL user who lives in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area is welcome to attend. The group also has a Facebook page which is used to share information and to get feedback from the BSL community.
Research project exploring BSL users’ experience of psychological therapy
Resources
Contact the CHC
If you are looking for support for your care home or a care home within your HSCP. Please get in touch, we aim to respond within one to two working days.
(HSCPs seeking Infection Prevention Control (IPC) support for a care home please see flow diagram for guidance before completing contact form).
Alternatively for enquires, an informal chat, or to give feedback on our service:
Email: ggc.chccontact@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Phone: 0141 427 8254
Travel directions to Dava Street
Further Information
Welcome to the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) care homes page. There are currently 183 registered care homes providing specialist care for adults and older people, people with learning and physical disability, neurological illness, mental health conditions and brain injury.
There are approximately 7,000 people residing in care homes with around 15,000 staff supporting the delivery of their care. Care homes are supported by their local Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) teams who provide a range of different services.
Webpage feedback
We welcome your feedback on the NHSGGC care home webpages. Please tell us what is good, what could be improved and anything else you would like to see. Please let us know if any of the links on these pages are broken.
If you have any compliments or comments about a care home please contact the care home directly or contact the local HSCP team.
Care Home Partners
Care Home Collaborative (CHC)
The Care Home Collaborative works in partnership with all care homes across NHSGGC. We learn from and work with care home teams and their communities to help residents live their lives according to what matters to them.
Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs)
HSCP teams provide a range of services to support care homes.
To learn more, please select your local area
Care Home Assurance
Care Home Assurance Visits provide an opportunity for partnership working and shared learning between care homes and HSCP teams. These visits identify areas of good practice as well as what could be better. Care homes are supported to have ownership of changes required and can work in collaboration with the HSCPs and the CHC to achieve changes.
Useful links A- Z
You can search useful links to partner organisations under the appropriate letter below
- A
- B
- C
- Care Home Relatives Scotland
- Care Inspectorate
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- Q
- R
- S
- T
- U
- V
- W
- X
- Y
- Z
Winter Vaccinations
Flu and Covid vaccinations are available for all residents in care homes, carers, frontline Health and Social Care Staff which includes those working in Care Homes and in Care at Home Services. Every year we offer flu and the vaccine changes with the strains that are present so that we are all given the most protection possible. Even if you have had your primary course of the Covid Vaccine it is really important that you take up the offer of a Booster as Covid is a virus which changes and therefore the Covid Vaccine offered as a Booster is the most up to date for the variant that is circulating.
Both Vaccines protect against severe illness and reduce hospital admissions. By receiving your vaccinations you not only protect yourselves but your friends, family and those who are most vulnerable especially those we care for. By being vaccinated we also protect the demand on our NHS and Social Care Services.
If you are a resident in a Care Home then the Vaccination Team will come to vaccinate you in your residence and will also be able to vaccinate staff. If as a member of staff you are not at work on the day they visit it is still possible to receive your vaccine by attending our mobile bus and Community Clinics.
NHSGGC website has a list of all our clinics and mobile bus drop-ins: NHSGGC – Autumn Winter Vaccination Programme 2023/24
For information on the Winter Vaccine Programme please visit: Winter vaccines | NHS inform
Leaflets and information is available in alternative formats or other languages: Winter vaccines leaflets | NHS inform
If you are over 75 years or have a Weakened Immune System (WIS) and live in the community then you will receive a letter with an appointment. NHSGGC website has a list of all our clinics and mobile bus drop-ins: NHSGGC – Autumn Winter Vaccination Programme 2023/24
If you cannot attend the appointment allocated on the letter. You can change this via the NHS Inform Booking portal Login – Customer Service (nhs.scot) or by calling the National Contact Centre on 0800 030 8013. You can attend any community clinic where you work or live whatever is easiest. Flu is also available at Community Pharmacies across NHS GGC for those who are over 75, those with a weakened immune system (WIS) and Health and Social Care Staff including those working in Nursing Homes and Care at Home Services. To find a Pharmacy near you offering flu please check here