Your health

Staff Guidance & Policies

We have a range of guidance and policies which support diversity in the workforce. These include:

• Equality and Diversity Management Guidance
• Adoption and Fostering Policy
• Policy on Breastfeeding
• Flexible Working Policy
• Gender Based Violence Policy
• Maternity Leave Policy
• Parental Leave Policy
• Reduced Working Year Policy
• Special Leave Policy
• Equal Pay Statement

Support for Staff with Money Worries

In the current economic climate, many staff are experiencing money and debt problems, which can increase personal stress. NHSGGC has a number of resources to support staff.

Our All About Money page is specifically for staff and offers a wide range of help, practical support and advice.

Staff Forums

For more information visit our Staff Forums web page.

Staff Disability Forum

The Staff Disability Forum is the longest established staff forum. It aims to make positive changes in the organisation and provide a support network for disabled staff.

For further information visit their web page.

LGBTQ+ Staff Forum

For NHSGGC staff members who want to contribute to creating a more LGBTQ+ inclusive workplace, there is a LGBTQ+ forum. The Forum is a group of staff who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer inclusive (LGBTQ+), and allies.

The group aims to create a safe and welcoming space for staff members within our LGBTQ+ community, with social activities, a programme of events, and formal as well as informal meetings.


To join or for more information about the group, visit their web page.

Black & Minority Ethnic Staff Forum

This group has been formed as a result of discussions held with Black & Minority Ethnic staff about their experience of working in NHSGGC. Issues raised by staff included stereotyping, discrimination and organisational culture, as well as the impact of negative media reporting and the anti-immigration climate.

In addition to providing a support network for Black & Minority Ethnic staff, the Forum is supported by members of the Workforce Equalities Group to make positive changes within the organisation.
For further information, visit their web page.

Martin is a Deaf man whose first language is British Sign Language. A smoker for many years, Martin finally decided to take the plunge and quit. After looking at the various options available to help him, he decided that he would like the support of a group. On enquiring, however, Martin was told that he could not attend a smoking cessation group because there was no budget for an interpreter.

This is a real example of discrimination which happened in NHSGGC. It was our responsibility to ensure Martin could use this service. To meet our patient commitment, and by law, a BSL interpreter should have been made available.

This section provides real examples of how people have been affected by discrimination within NHSGGC. It highlights the training and resources available to staff to help us treat people fairly. It also looks at what’s being done to ensure a working environment for staff which is free from harassment or discrimination of any nature.

What is Discrimination?

We discriminate when we treat people as if they are all the same even when they have different needs. We also discriminate if we treat people differently in a negative way based on their gender, age, social class, sexual orientation, race, faith & belief or disability.

Every one of us has to be aware of and tackle discrimination. Not only should we want to ensure that patients get the services they need, we should be aware that by law we must not discriminate either against patients or staff members.

People’s Experiences

Scottish Child Payment is now open for applications

Scottish Child Payment is a new payment for families on tax credits or certain benefits to help towards the costs of looking after a child. It is £40 paid every four weeks for each child under six.

The payment starts on Monday 15 February 2021, with first payments made from the end of February onwards, but Social Security Scotland is taking applications now to help manage demand.

You can apply if your child will be under six on 15 February 2021.

The qualifying benefits are:

* Child Tax Credit
* Income Support
* Pension Credit
* Working Tax Credit
* Universal Credit
* Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
* Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Social Security Scotland will ask for evidence that the person applying is responsible for a child under six, usually through the child being named on a benefit claim form.
If more than one person applies for the same child, there’s a process for deciding who gets the payment – prioritising the person who the child lives with most of the time.

Scottish Child Payment will not be taken into account for UK benefit and tax credit assessments and there is no cap on the amount of children this payment can support.

First payments will be made from late February onwards. When someone gets paid will depend on how many applications we get and the process each individual application goes through.
If someone applied before Monday 15 February 2021, this will be the date that their
payment will be calculated from. If they apply after this date, it will be calculated from the date that they applied.

Payments will be made every four weeks following the first payment.

Find out more information and apply at mygov.scot/scottish-child-payment or call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.

PIP is a new benefit for people aged 16-64 who have a disability, physical impairment or mental health condition.

It will replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) but more people will qualify for PIP than DLA.

PIP aims to support people that are experiencing difficulties with daily activities and mobility that are likely to last for 12 months or more.

We want to ensure that patients who have problems with daily living, such as eating or preparing food, taking medication, moving around or managing money, are aware of this benefit and how to claim it.

Posters and leaflets promoting PIP have been produced by NHSGGC and are being distributed throughout our services.

Get In Touch for more information.

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde have put in place a range of initiatives on money worries and employment which can make a substantial difference to vulnerable patients and families. For more information click here.

Person centred care is at the heart of the National Quality Strategy and aims to deliver effective, safe, non-discriminatory and efficient health and social care. 

Being sensitive to inequalities and human rights within person-centred care means working in a way which responds to the life circumstances that affect people’s health. Evidence shows that if these issues are not taken into account by the health service, opportunities are missed to improve health and to reduce health inequalities.

Current Areas of Work

Our Frontline Equality Assessment Tool (FEAT) programme is being expanded to deliver a range of reviews across both Health & Social Care Partnerships and our Acute services in 2025/26. The programme offers a sense check which highlights both where there are gaps in services’ inequalities sensitive practice and where there are examples of good practice which could be replicated in other services.

Equality Impact Assessments (EQIAs) across the system are identifying areas for Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) or physical access audits aligned to the FEAT. NHSGGC has a duty to remove access barriers for disabled patients and these audits provide assessments of a physical environment with proposed enhancements reported back to our Estates and Facilities Directorate.

Our Anti-racism Plan aims to ensure that an anti-discriminatory approach to patient care is evident, particularly across key service areas such as Coronary Heart Disease, Type 2 Diabetes, Maternity and Mental Health. The Plan reflects our Equality Outcomes (2025 – 2029) and brings together our existing anti-racism work and our planned new activities in a single document.

NHSGGC wants to work in partnership with patients, learning from patients’ lived experiences.

We want to ensure that all voices are heard. The Equalities & Human Rights Team’s patient involvement activities therefore specifically engage with people with protected characteristics and other groups that experience discrimination.

People’s experience of inequalities and discrimination impact upon their health, how they engage with health services and manage their health problems. By engaging with communities and responding to feedback we can improve everyone’s experience of NHSGGC services. This work will also inform our equality outcomes and actions for the future.
The Equality and Human Rights Team also work closely with the Patient Experience Public Involvement Team to help reach and engage with all our communities.

Involving Patients and Members of the Public

We consult with a variety of patient groups depending on the area of work. For example –

Disability Access – our Disability Access Patient Group, help us investigate and audit the factors affecting disabled people’s access to our buildings and services.

Learning Disability – we work in partnership with a number of organisations supporting people with a learning disability and are members of The Life I Want Health Group, a partnership forum made up of 3rd sector (charitable) services. This engagement is vital in helping us improve experiences and health outcomes for patients with a learning disability.

Black and Minority Ethnic Communities – our engagement is constantly being developed and delivered with a range of charities working with BME communities. This informs our work to ensure communities have access to health information and that our services are delivered in ways which provides access for all. As such, it is an integral part of the ongoing development of our Anti-Racism Plan. For example, we have been working with the Minority Ethnic Carers of People Project (MECOPP) to better understand the needs of the Gypsy Traveller population within GGC, with the aim of improving access to health services, reducing stigma and discrimination and build trusting relationships.  

The Deaf Community – feedback is sought from the Deaf community on a range of issues, including the BSL National Plan, our Interpreting services and access to NHSGGC services. The BSL Health Champions – volunteers from the Deaf BSL community – work with us to achieve this and group meetings are open to any Deaf BSL user who lives in the NHSGGC area. The group also has a Facebook page which is used to share information and to get feedback from the BSL community.

The role of Peer Workers

Peer workers are people who draw on their own experiences to help and support others in similar circumstances. Their lived experience enables them to connect in a meaningful way with those they are supporting.

The role of Engagement and Educational Peer Workers was introduced in NHSGGC in 2022. Our current work focuses on Immunisation, Screening, Poverty and aims to –

• Support the ongoing patient engagement within the vaccination and screening  programmes; identify barriers to up-take and provide accurate, accessible information on vaccines and screening and wider NHSGGC services. 
• Maximise the contact with communities who find it hard to engage with NHSGGC’s routine patient involvement activities and support them to do so.
• Engage with people living in poverty, discuss the help and support available and signpost as appropriate. 

The Peer Workers run discussion sessions with their groups on issues relating to healthcare and people’s experience of using NHS services. They also provide information on the advice and support available to NHSGGC patients, particularly around help with financial hardship.

Useful Resources

• Communication Guidance – Tip Cards

Domestic abuse, rape and sexual assault, prostitution, child sexual abuse and other forms of gender-based violence cause immense pain and suffering and are a major public health issue. The emotional, psychological and physical consequences of gender-based violence can be profound and include fatal injury, physical health problems, chronic conditions, mental health problems and negative health behaviours.

Many people affected by gender-based violence are reluctant to disclose this experience, often through fear or shame. However, they do present across the whole range of primary and acute health settings. Health workers are therefore in a unique position to provide help and support. If we do not ask about or respond to gender-based violence there is a danger that the health issue won’t be treated properly and could increase the risk of long-term and chronic ill-health and even death.

Health workers across the whole of the health service need to know about gender-based violence, what to look for and how to respond. This is fundamental to our duty of care to patients and part of our role to promote gender equality.

The prevention of gender-based violence and the care of people experiencing it is a key priority for public protection within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Key NHS Documents

• Gender-based Violence Policy Overview | NHS Scotland
• Gender-based Violence Guideline – Emergency Department and Minor Injuries Unit

Other Publications

• Equally Safe strategy – Violence against women and girls (VAWG) – gov.scot
• Adult Support and Protection: Guidance for General Practice, Scottish Government
• National-guidance-child-protection-scotland-2021-updated-2023.pdf
• Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Multi-Agency Guidance, Scottish Government
• Scotland’s Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy 2025 – gov.scot
• Ending violence against women and girls: A public health approach
  

Useful Links

Public Protection

• Act Against Harm, Scottish Government
• Childhood Abuse, mygov.scot

Commercial Sexual Exploitation

• Challenging Men’s Demand for Prostitution, Scottish Government

Domestic Abuse

• Domestic Abuse: Staying Safe, mygov.scot
• LGBT Domestic Abuse Scotland
• Men’s Advice Line UK
• Scottish Women’s Aid – changing attitudes, changing lives
• Domestic Abuse and Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse in Scotland,Police Scotland

Prevention Campaigns

• A Strong Man, Maryhill Integration Network, media co-op and White Ribbon Scotland
• That Guy

FGM and Forced Marriage

• FGM Aware, Women’s Support Project
• Scotland’s national action plan to prevent and eradicate FGM – gov.scot
• Forced Marriage, Scottish Government

Rape & Sexual Assault

• Archway Glasgow Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Sandyford
• Support after rape or sexual assault, mygov.scot
• Rape Crisis Scotland

Stalking

• Stalking: Support, mygov.scot

Trafficking for sexual exploitation

• TARA service for women trafficked for sexual exploitation, Glasgow City Council 
• Encompass Network – support for women involved in prostitution

Homelessness

• Homelessness Advice & Information from Glasgow City Council