Essential visiting is when visiting needs to be more carefully managed, such as in the event of an outbreak of infection. During these times, there may be the need to temporarily restrict visiting in individual ward areas to prevent the spread of infection, and to protect patients, families and staff. This is normal practice in the management of an infection outbreak.
We understand the vital support that family and friends provide to maintain wellbeing. NHSGGC is committed to take as flexible, person-centred and compassionate approach to facilitate family and friend support. We will try to facilitate visits in any situation where it is important for family to be involved for ethical, safety or other reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will ‘essential visits’ be supported?
The following are examples of where an ‘essential visit’ will be supported for family members:
when someone is reaching the end of their life
if someone has dementia and needs family support
support for someone with a learning disability
a family member who has caring responsibilities
parents of a child in hospital
support during pregnancy and childbirth, including outpatient appointments, ante-natal and post-natal care
situations where someone is receiving life-changing information.
This list is not exhaustive. A flexible and compassionate approach will always guide decision making.
How will I keep in touch with my family member/friend?
Person Centred Virtual Visiting (video calls) is in place to help people maintain contact with their relatives/friends, when in-person visits are not possible. People can see and talk to those who matter to them using NHS Near Me / Attend Anywhere. You can access this on mobile phones, laptops or computers. iPads are available on all wards if you do not have, or are unable to use, your own device.
Please do not hesitate to speak to with ward staff if you have any questions. You can find Ward and Department telephone numbers on the NHSGGC website.
Give and Go services are running from 12.00 – 5.00pm Monday to Friday at the main entrances of Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Royal Alexandra Hospital from Thursday 17 March onwards. This is due to local temporary essential visiting restrictions which are now in place.
Our volunteer-run Give and Go service enables families and friends to safely collect personal laundry and hand in comfort items and essential belongings for their loved ones while they are in hospital and patient visiting is restricted due to COVID-19.
If you or a loved one would like to use the service, we ask that you only bring one small bag (e.g. a small rucksack or carrier bag) that is sealed with sellotape or masking tape and marked with the patient’s name, ward details and date of birth. Please try to ensure that only one person attends the hospital to hand in belongings.
Further information on the Give and Go service
What can you drop off?
We accept personal and comfort items.
You will be able to drop off essential items to our volunteers who will deliver these to the wards for your loved ones. Please ensure you observe social distancing when using this volunteer service. Many people want to bring food to their relative in hospital and we understand why this is important. Please only send small items of food that do not need to go in the fridge, or need to be reheated.
Items allowed
Toiletries (washbag)
Mobile phones, chargers, Kindle/iPad/e-readers
Clothing/footwear
Hearing aid/glasses/dentures (they must be in a protective container)
Snacks in original sealed package
Books, magazines.
Items not allowed
Food that requires refrigeration or reheating
Smoking/tobacco materials
Medication/drugs/alcohol
Money, bank cards
Jewellery
Flowers
Take away food
Balloons
Fans/Kettles.
Collecting laundry
If you would like to collect laundry please call the ward in advance of your visit to arrange and the volunteers will collect it from the ward when you arrive.
These web pages explain what we are doing to address discrimination and bring about better equalities in health.
We want to ensure that everyone who uses our healthcare services, or works for us, is treated fairly. This means making sure that services are working well for everyone and that people are getting information in a way they can understand.
We also report on how we are upholding the equality laws designed to protect people from unfair discrimination.
To view these reports, find out more about our work and to contact the NHSGGC Equality & Human Rights Team, see below.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory infection that affects your lungs and airways. At this time, it is especially important to eat healthily so that our bodies are more able to fight infections such as COVID-19.
If you are worried about your weight or want help to eat more healthily and lose weight, we can help.
The way we shop and eat may have changed during COVID-19 restrictions. This may mean having to cook more on a tighter budget, feed children during school closures, or relying on others to do the shopping.
Key Messages
Overweight or have type 2 diabetes?
If you are overweight or have type 2 diabetes, it is important to follow a healthy diet.
Having Diabetes does not mean you are more likely to catch coronavirus (COVID-19). However, if you do catch coronavirus (COVID-19), it can cause more severe symptoms and complications. Diabetes UK provide specific advice for people with diabetes, their family and friends.
For people with diabetes or a BMI of 40 or above it is very important to maintain a healthy weight or lose some weight. This may seem very challenging due to the current restrictions but there are lots of useful resources to help (see information in the boxes below).
If you are looking for meal ideas that are low cost, quick and easy to prepare Eat Better Feel Better recipes are free to access and also has meal planners and cook-a-long videos. Love Food Hate Waste also have lots of recipes and information and tips on reducing food waste.
This is a challenging time and will cause worry for some households. We have gathered local information on the COVID-19 response to food. It provides information on how to access food including the newly established community hubs, food aid, meal providers, information for specific groups such as shielded households and those entitled to free school meals.
Find information and support to access food in your area.
COVID-19 might affect you financially. Our Money Worries page provides information about COVID-19 and your finances, changes to benefits claims and the support services available.
Pregnant women and families who have children aged up to three years old on low income might be entitled to Best Start Food benefits.
Vitamin D for those shielding or self-isolating
Many people are being asked to stay at home if they are shielding or self-isolating. During these measures you may want to take a vitamin supplement containing vitamin D.
The Scottish Government are currently advising people to stay at home. This may mean staying indoors for much of the day which could result in not getting enough Vitamin D from sunlight. During stay at home restrictions, guidance on vitamin D has been revised to reflect the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. National information on shielding can be found on the NHS Inform site.
Everyone (including children and pregnant and breastfeeding women) should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D. This is especially important for people who are indoors all of the time for bone and muscle health. More information is available via the Scottish Government website.
Vitamin D supplements can be purchased at most supermarkets and pharmacies. If you are self-isolating or shielding and are unable to go to the shops help is available in your area.
All pregnant women are entitled to free Healthy Start vitamins, which contain Vitamin D from your midwife. Women and children who qualify for the Best Start Foods scheme in Scotland can get free Healthy Start vitamins containing the recommended amounts of vitamin D from your community pharmacy. Healthy Start vitamins are also available to purchase if you do not qualify for Best Start Food
People aged 70 or older are more at risk
People aged 70 or older are more at risk from COVID-19 and should follow social distancing measures to keep safe.
Age Scotland has compiled advice for older people and their families on how to avoid exposure to the virus, and includes advice on shopping. Age Scotland also have a helpline Telephone: 0800 12 44 222.
Local community support is also available for those who require assistance to access food and support. Please see our local information and support.
Support for patients who have had COVID-19
Support is available for anyone who has been hospitalised due to COVID-19.
Our Support and Information Service (SIS) provides support and information on a range of issues including money advice, energy and carers support. We also provide an emergency food discharge pack for vulnerable inpatients being discharged from QEUH, GRI and RAH who either have no food at home or are unable to food shop due to COVID-19.
We will also make onward referrals to services providing food shopping and medicine deliveries.
The health of the public remains a top priority as we respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. We want to encourage everyone to keep healthy during this unprecedented disruption to our daily life. This means taking care of both your physical and mental health.
With this in mind, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has pulled together a number of resources to help you do this.
Resources
Physical activity
As we all follow Government advice to limit our social activities, we can continue being physically active. If you are well, a daily routine which includes physical activity can help you feel less anxious and help you sleep better.
If you are unwell, use all your energy to get better and don’t try to do too much. When you’re getting better, return to your normal activities gradually.
Get outside
Being outside in the fresh air and green space can help reduce stress and make us feel better. Unless you are self-isolating, you can walk, jog, run or cycle outside on your own, as long as you keep 2 metres (three paces) away from other people.
Walking
Walking is a great simple form of physical activity. Tracking your steps with a pedometer, a fitness tracker or a phone app can help you keep you motivated to stay active.
World Walking – Download the free app or visit the website and try to virtually walk your way around a number of routes from across the world.
Active 10 App – free app to help you get into the habit of walking briskly for 10 minutes every day. You can also connect with other others to spur each other on.
It’s important to take care of your mental health during this period.
You can do so by staying connected with friends and family, taking breaks from the news, and finding ways to relax. You can find more information on the SAMH website.
The Scottish Government has also launched the Clear your head websiteproviding tips and ideas to help you look after your mental wellbeing.
Additional resources
Mindfulness
There’s little doubt that the days ahead will be challenging both mentally and physically for all of us. Pressure of this type can help us perform at our best, with focus and skill, however we also need ways to take care of ourselves, and to balance the effects of stress.
No matter how experienced or calm we are, a crisis like this will activate our fight and flight response to threat. This is completely normal. Our threat system is programmed to protect us in a short term emergency. However when the cascade of activity triggered in our fight or flight system goes on at a high level for a lengthy period it can cause us significant health issues, can lower our immunity and lead to burnout. We can feel panic and want to run, perhaps become nippy and irritable, or simply freeze and want to hide. These are all normal reactions in intensely stressful situations.
Mindfulness can help us notice when our stress levels are becoming more toxic. We can learn how to create a pause, even for a few moments, and check in with ourselves. We can cultivate skills to help us step out of automatic and really notice how we are in any moment. This can help us respond appropriately to the challenges of a constantly changing situation. Mindfulness can also strengthen our ability to fully focus on one thing at a time, doing the best we can. A mindful pause can help when we need to make decisions and to know when to ask for help.
The STOP process can act as a foundation to finding a mindful pause:
Stop! Tune in to the soles of your feet contacting the floor, noticing the feeling of pressure and support even if your feet are aching. This can help with a sense of steadiness and grounding…arriving in the present moment. Your feet are as far away as possible from a racing mind.
Take a few slower and deeper breaths, as best as you can, doing this gently without a sense of forcing or intensity. If it helps you may like to count to 4 as you breathe in and then out, noticing if you can begin to lengthen your out-breath to 6 or 8.
Observe how you are in this moment, asking ‘How is my body feeling, can I release tension from any part? Where is my mind, anxiously racing ahead, trying to chase the’ to do’ list, catastrophising? How am I feeling, can I allow myself to feel whatever is here and bring some kindness to myself and others?’
Proceed. The intensity of the situation may not have changed; however, you may be able to relate to it with a little more awareness, steadiness and kindly understanding towards yourself and those around you.
Residents who require support but are not shielding are clearly directed to the East Dunbartonshire Voluntary Action (EDVA) who are working in partnership with the providers of the Older People’s Advice Line (OPAL) to support those who need some extra help.
They can be contacted on 0141 438 2347. The helpline is open 7 days a week from 9.00am – 5.00pm
Glasgow City
Call the helpline on: 0141 276 1185, 7 days a week, 9am – 5pm
There is an extensive FAQs section on shielding to support residents.
For those who are not shielding, they are directed to the Community Hub for Glasgow, which has been set up by Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector and the Health and Social Care Partnership. The Hub provides information on local groups and organisations in your area that can provide support for a wide range of activities, including accessing food and picking up medication.
Residents can contact the Community Hub on 0141 345 0543, Monday to Friday, 9.00am – 5.00pm. Or visit:
In line with Scottish Government guidance concerning COVID testing, our asymptomatic Community Testing facilities, where members of the public can access free on-site Lateral Flow tests and pick up test kits for home testing, closed on the 14th of April 2022.
If you would like to pick up a test kit before the community test centres close, please visit one of the following sites:
West Dunbartonshire
No test centres available.
East Dunbartonshire
No test centres available.
East Renfrewshire
No test centres available.
Glasgow City
No test centres available.
Inverclyde
No test centres available.
Renfrewshire
No test centres available.
Please note that depending on demand, members of the public may be only be given a maximum of two LFT packs (each containing seven tests) per visit.
Each of the centres works on a drop-in basis, with no appointment necessary. We would like to encourage everyone living or working in the area near one of these testing sites to go along and have a rapid test (you will get a result in 30 minutes or less).
The centres will also advise of support available if you have a positive test so that you can isolate and not spread the infection.
The UK Government testing sites for members of the public who have COVID symptoms and require a PCR test will remain open until the end of April. You can book a PCR test via NHSInform or by using the link sent to you if you are contacted by our Test and Protect team.
Emergency social work services provide assessment and intervention in emergency situations to relieve acute risk. We deal with referrals which are too urgent to wait for Social Work Service offices to re-open.
0300 343 1505 (public)
0141 305 6705 (Mental Health)
0141 305 6910 (for health professionals).
You should only call 999 in a medical emergency, when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
Emergencies can include:
Loss of consciousness
Cardiac arrest
Heart attack
Stroke
An acute confused state
Chest pains
Breathing difficulties
Severe bleeding that cannot be stopped
Severe allergic reactions
Severe burns or scalds
Major trauma, such as a road traffic accident or fall from a height.
If you are unsure if it is an emergency, callNHS 24 on 111.
What happens when you call 999
An operator will ask which emergency service you need. If it’s a medical emergency, ask for the ambulance service. The ambulance service will ask some questions to find out what has happened and arrange the most appropriate help.
Further information is available on the Scottish Ambulance Service website:
By only calling 999 for serious illnesses or injuries, it means that people who need essential treatment can get it as soon as possible.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has moved to the Right Care, Right Place model for all emergency care, which means your experience of emergency care may be slightly different than before the pandemic.
The new model is there to ensure patients access the most appropriate care quickly and safely and will help protect the Accident & Emergency Departments (A&E) so they can look after those patients with life-threatening conditions, such as strokes, heart attacks, head injuries, breathing difficulties, or severe bleeding.
A&E is there to deal with genuine life-threatening emergencies. It is for serious accidents or serious emergencies such as strokes, heart attacks, head injuries, breathing difficulties, or severe bleeding.
If you come to A&E and it is not the best place for you to be treated, you may be redirected by staff towards the correct service for your needs. This could include a Minor Injuries Unit, a pharmacy, or your local GP. For more information please call NHS 24 on 111.
What should you do in an emergency?
If your condition is life-threatening, you should call 999 or go straight to A&E.
If it’s an emergency, and you need access to urgent care, but it’s not life-threatening, you should always first phone NHS 24 on 111, or, speak to your local GP before attending A&E.
NHS 24 or your GP will be able to provide you with the correct advice and treatment or refer you directly to the most appropriate service for your needs.
If you are referred to A&E by your GP or by NHS 24 you may be given time to attend.
If your condition is life threatening, you should always call 999 or go straight to A&E.
If it’s an emergency and you need access to urgent care, but it’s not life threatening, you should always phone NHS 24 on 111 first or, speak to your local GP before attending A&E.
If your child needs emergency care, know where to go
Wherever you live in the NHSGGC area, babies of 0-12 months should be taken to the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow.
Children over 1 year with a medical emergency or serious injury can go to The Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, the RAH in Paisley or Inverclyde Royal Hospital.
Major Emergency
If a child is seriously injured or becomes so unwell that you think it is an emergency you should dial 999 straight away. The Scottish Ambulance Service will usually take your child to the Royal Hospital for Children. Sometimes they may deem it more appropriate to go to a closer A&E.
About our A&Es
We have five A&Es that are always open to treat patients who have a serious injury or medical emergency.They are at:
Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
Royal Hospital for Children
Glasgow Royal Infirmary
Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) in Paisley
Inverclyde Royal Hospital in Greenock.
Other services may be able to give you the treatment you need
If you think you need to visit A&E, but it’s not life-threatening, contact our Virtual A&E service by calling 111. You may be able to receive treatment without having to visit a busy A&E department.
For non-emergencies, there are Minor Injury Units (MIUs), GP services, NHS 24 on 111, and your pharmacy. If you are unsure which service is best for you, Call NHS 24 on 111.
Always call NHS 24 on 111 first to ensure you get the right care, right place, right time.
If you, or someone you know, needs support with mental health problems, in the first instanceyou should contact your GP. If required, your GP can then refer you to Mental Health Services in your local areas.
You will find lots of useful information on the NHS inform website www.nhsinform.scot. You can also visit Heads Up at www.headsup.scot for advice, videos and support.
When you need urgent help
If you, or someone you know, needs urgent help or is in crisis, call NHS 24 on 111
If you just need to talk with someone, there is help available:
The Samaritans are there 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can call them on 116 123 (freephone) or email: jo@samaritans.org
Breathing Space offers a confidential phone line for anyone in Scotland feeling low, anxious or depressed. You can call free on 0800 83 85 87.
What happens when the GP surgery and community services are closed?
Crisis services are available for patients who are already known to the Community Mental Health Services. There is an out-of-hours Community Psychiatric Nurse service which can be accessed directly by calling 0845 650 1730.
The service is open:
Monday to Friday, 8pm – 9am
Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, 4:30pm – 9am
You can also call NHS 24 on 111 for advice.
Local services
Crisis Services
There are crisis services available 24-hours a day, all year round.
Monday to Friday, 9.00am – 8pm and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, 9.00am – 5pm, please use the numbers in the local directory below.
At all other times, please call 0845 650 1730.
Services in your area
Community mental health services for adults and the elderly, are available in your local area. You will find details below.
Glasgow North West
Arndale Resource Centre (Crisis): 0141 211 6184
Riverside Resource Centre (Crisis): 0141 211 1430
Glenkirk Centre (Elderly): 0141 232 1300
Shawpark Resource Centre (Crisis): 0141 451 2730
Glasgow North East
Auchinlea House Resource Centre (Crisis): 0141 232 7200
Arran Resource Centre (Crisis): 0141 232 1200
Parkview Resource Centre (Elderly): 0141 303 8800
Springpark Centre (Crisis): 0141 211 7000
Belmont Centre (Elderly): 0141 232 6660
Glasgow South
Brand St Resource Centre (Crisis): 0141 303 8900
Rossdale Resource Centre (Crisis): 0141 232 475
Elderpark Clinic (Elderly): 0141 232 7100
Florence St Resource Centre (Crisis): 0141 232 7000
Stewart Centre (Crisis): 0141 634 5430
Shawmill Resource Centre (Elderly): 0141 577 7773
East Dunbartonshire
Arndale Resource Centre (Crisis): 0141 211 6184
Kirkintilloch Health & Care Centre (Crisis): 0141 232 820
Woodlands Centre (Elderly): 0141 232 7300
West Dunbartonshire
Riverview Resource Centre (Crisis): 01389 812 070
East Renfrewshire
Adult Mental Health Team (Crisis): 0141 800 7809
Older People Mental Health: 0141 451 0860
Team/Willow Clinic (Crisis):
Cambuslang/Rutherglen (South Lanarkshire)
Eastvale Resource Centre (Elderly and Crisis): 0141 531 4117
Renfrewshire
Community Mental Health Services and Doing Well Service: 0141 849 2208
The Intensive Home Treatment Service (only available in Renfrewshire) can be accessed by contacting your GP or NHS 24 on 111.
Inverclyde
Crown House
The Community Response Service
Available for patients who are already known to Community Mental Health Services and can be contacted on 01475 558000 (Select Option 2).
Alternatively, mental health services can be contacted through NHS 24 on 111.
In order to receive the full range of dental treatment and care under the NHS, you must be registered with a dentist. Your dentist will then provide regular check ups, planned routine treatment and emergency care, if required.
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