This includes royal, ministerial, celebrity and other visitors.
Purpose
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) regularly receives requests from individuals external to the organisation to visit our premises and services for publicity purposes and to mark official openings.
We are supported by a number of charities and they too have a programme of regular events on NHSGGC premises which involve visits by celebrities and other VIPs.
As a public sector organisation we engage with politicians on a regular basis. We receive regular requests to visit our services as we are accountable for activities undertaken within our organisation.
The purpose of this protocol is to provide clear guidance on the arrangements for managing and approving visits to NHSGGC premises.
If you wish to arrange a visit to your service or if you receive a request from a VIP visitor to visit NHSGGC premises, including via charity organisations, you must notify this to the Corporate Communication Directorate at gordon.robertson@ggc.scot.nhs.uk as soon as the request is received.
Scope
This protocol applies to visits to premises directly owned and managed by NHSGGC including HSCPs. Visits by the following are included within the scope of this protocol:
- celebrities;
- elected representatives, including Government Ministers, local, national and international politicians and councillors;
- members of the Royal Family
- Scottish Government senior officials
- official visits by charity partners and their ambassadors; and,
- other dignitaries.
For the remainder of this protocol these shall be referred to collectively as ‘VIP visitors’.
Visits outwith the scope of this protocol:
- visits by external organisations, including NHS Boards, professional exchanges and other visitors for business reasons; and,
- charity representatives granted permission to access NHSGGC premises for fundraising purposes.
Principles
All visits by VIP visitors must be authorised by the Chief Executive or the Informal Directors Committee, including visits by individuals associated with charities.
Individual directorates/departments and charities must not invite VIP visitors into NHSGGC premises without appropriate authorisation to do so.
All VIP visitors to be accompanied while on NHSGGC premises (which serves to protect patients, the visitor and the hospital).
Visits must not interfere with the running of the service/hospital, disrupt patient care or compromise patient confidentiality.
Authorisation Process
If you wish to arrange a visit to your service or if you receive a request from a VIP visitor to visit NHSGGC premises, including via charity organisations, you must notify this to the Corporate Communication Directorate at gordon.roberson@ggc.scot.nhs.uk as soon as the request is received.
- Visits by Royals, Scottish Government Ministers and dignitaries eg Lord Provost of Glasgow require the approval of the Chief Executive.
Once approved the Corporate Communications Directorate will liaise with the Chief Executive / Executive Director as appropriate to:
- check the corporate diary to agree a suitable date;
- agree the level of representation to manage the visit; and,
- agree whether the visit is to be private or whether media can attend.
- Visits by elected representatives including MSP(s) and MP(s), as well as Scottish Government senior officials and charities to be discussed and require approval at the weekly Informal Directors meeting. Requests will be contained in a separate paper for the committee as appropriate.
Once approved the Corporate Communications Directorate will liaise with the relevant Executive Director / Director or Chief Officer as appropriate to:
- check the corporate diary to agree a suitable date;
- agree the level of representation to manage the visit; and,
- agree whether the visit is to be private or whether media can attend.
As standard, all visits:
- should be hosted by an Executive Director / Director or Chief Officer
- must not place patients or vulnerable people at risk or breach patient confidentiality
- will always be accompanied by the appropriate NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde staff
- should not take place during a patient’s treatment.