If you are a member of staff and you need to raise a concern about patient safety, working conditions or wrongdoing, you should firstly speak to your manager, supervisor or clinical director, either informally or formally.
The new National Whistleblowing Standards for the NHS in Scotland came into force on 1st April 2021 and apply to anyone working to deliver NHS services. It’s important that you know what options you have to raise a concern in confidence and in a protected way.
You can access the relevant resources using the buttons below.
Brian Auld, Non-Executive Board Member and Whistleblowing Champion
“My pledge as your Whistleblowing Champion is to ensure that we create the best environment that allows you to be courageous and take that first step with raising any concerns that you may have.”
I joined the Board of NHS GGC in July this year as your new Whistleblowing Champion to build upon the great work that has already been done to introduce the National Whistleblowing Standards across all areas of the organisation. As a way of an introduction, I am a Chartered Environmental Health Officer by background, and I have worked mainly in regulation and enforcement across the public sector in Scotland, including several years in the NHS. As you begin to get to know me through my role as Whistleblowing Champion, you will see that I am a passionate advocate for speaking up, and I believe that every single person, no matter what your role is within NHS GGC, must have the opportunity to talk about anything that concerns them about the services we deliver or the assets that we are responsible for. We all have a role to play with ensuring that we keep our patients and service users safe and provide the best healthcare experience that we can at all times.
I am confident that we have the right processes in place to work with you and have a positive conversation if you believe that something is wrong or not quite right. I know from my own personal experience how challenging and difficult it can be to take that very first step in speaking up. I have led investigations into Whistleblowing, and I have also been a whistleblower when I believed that something that I had seen was wrong. Although my own experience was extremely positive, I know that for some people who whistleblow, that this has not always been their own experience. I want you to feel that you have been listened to and heard and have absolute confidence and trust in us that we will take all the necessary steps to independently investigate and report on our findings in an open and transparent way whilst maintaining confidentiality. Above all, I want you to feel empowered to take that first step and speak up.
Kim Donald, Corporate Services Manager – Governance and Whistleblowing Lead
“I pledge to listen without judgement and protect colleagues throughout the process”
As Corporate Services Manager – Governance, part of my role is to oversee the whistleblowing process within NHSGGC and ensure we comply with the national standards that can be found here National Whistleblowing Standards | INWO (spso.org.uk). It is extremely important as an organisation that we continue to learn from feedback, and whistleblowing is a key element of that.
It may be helpful for colleagues to know that, as an organisation, we are legally obligated to protect anyone who speaks up from detriment, and that confidentiality is paramount during the process. We take this very seriously, and I work closely with HR colleagues on what this would look like to ensure that we protect staff in a meaningful way.
We also offer support via our Confidential Contacts Confidential Contacts – NHSGGC who can be contacted for advice on the process before raising concerns, and/or support during the process. We have taken time to ensure we have a diverse group of colleagues providing this support across the Board, and I would like to use this opportunity to thank the Confidential Contacts for their ongoing support and commitment.
If you require printed materials, either additional copies of the Speak Up posters, or the leaflet, please contact: ggc.staffexperience@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
This page is intended to assist AHPs in finding out more information about their career development and the NES NMAHP Transforming Roles Programme.
The Lead for this workstream for AHPs in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is Dr Mhairi Brandon.
If you have any questions on the NHSGGC AHP transforming roles workstream please get in touch with Mhairi directly.
Jillian Rennie (AHP Practice Education Facilitator)
Sharon Dempsey (AHP Practice Education Team Administrator)
“We work strategically at both a local and national level. We support and facilitate learning and development across all levels of the AHP Career Pathway”
What do we do?
We are part of a national network of AHP Practice Education staff based in all NHS Boards across Scotland.
The AHP Practice Education Team work with AHPs at all stages of their career. We aim to ensure the quality of work-based learning and to develop the work place as a learning environment.
Workstreams
Priority areas of work are guided at a national level by NHS Education for Scotland (NES). However, the AHP Practice Education Team workstreams do reflect the needs of the AHP workforce locally in NHSGGC and NHS Golden Jubilee.
We work with students and practice educators across NHSGGC, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and NES to support the provision of quality practice-based learning. This ensures we continue to have experienced newly qualified AHPs who can provide high quality care across NHSGGC.
AHP Careers and recruitment, including return to practice
As a team we are involved in the promotion of career choices and pathways available for AHP professions at all levels of the Career Framework.
The team link with local Workforce Employability Leads to keep up to date and support local workforce development plans/ events and to address any local recruitment challenges.
The NHS Scotland Careers in Healthcare webpage is easily accessible to all and has a number of useful resources including up to date careers opportunities across all professions, careers stories, blogs and information on apprenticeships.
The team also supports AHP return to practice. This includes AHPs who wish to return to practice and join the HCPC register, as well as AHPs willing to support a period of supervised practice for an AHP within NHSGGC.
NES have launched the AHP Return to Practiceweb page which provides information, links to resources and access to NHS Board key contacts.
The purpose of supervision is to promote wellbeing, support personal and professional development, develop knowledge, skills, and values and to promote competent practice, safe and effective person-centred care (Rothwell et al, 2018). All of these bring benefits to us as individuals, to our teams, organisations and to those who access our services.
Supervision is for and about you, as a person, a professional and as an employee.
We support local networks to highlight areas of best practice that are in place to support Newly Qualified Practitioners (NQPs).
The team will also be supporting a national scoping exercise looking at the needs of NQPs and those supporting them in their transition into the workforce.
NHS Flying Start Programme
We recognise that the transition from student to Newly Qualified Practitioner (NQP) can be an exciting but often daunting time. We therefore encourage all NQPs to complete NHS Flying Start, the national development programme designed to support NQPs including, nurses, midwives and AHPs, in their first year of practice.
The Flying start programme combines individual learning with support in the workplace which helps NQPs develop their confidence and become competent and capable health professionals.
Role development and learning and development for AHP support workers working across all care settings is vitally important. Information and resources are available on Support Worker Central on TURAS.
A survey was carried out in 2023 to establish the learning and development needs of the AHP HCSW workforce across NHSGGC. A report of the findings from this survey has been produced along with a summary SWAY.
Clinical Skills
Defined as “any action by a health or social care professional involved in direct patient care which impacts on clinical outcome in a measurable way” (NHS Education for Scotland, 2008).
We work with AHPs within NHSGGC to develop the use of clinical skills to support learning and high-quality client-centred practice. We also contribute to the national work stream to support and develop clinical skills.
AHP Education Fund
The NHSGGC 2025/6 AHP Education Fund will open at 9am on Monday 14th April, closing at 9am on Monday 12th May 2025. This round of funding includes MSc. modules at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) and The HNC Occupational Therapy Support Course at Glasgow Clyde College (GCC).
Information sessions over MS Teams have been organised with GCU and GCC.
The GCU MSc. Modules session will be held on Tuesday, 1st April, between 3 and 4pm. You can join this session using this link
The GCC HNC OT Support session will be held on Wednesday 2nd April, between 1 and 2pm. You can join this session using this link
These sessions offer the opportunity to hear from course and programme leads and ask questions about the opportunities. The sessions will be recorded and made available to those who are unable to attend live.
You can contact the AHP Practice Education Team via email to register to receive the application pack directly – ggc.gjnhahpepl@nhs.scot
Please indicate in your email if you are requesting the MSc. modular options application pack or the HNC Occupational Therapy Support pack.
The Scottish MRSA Reference Laboratory (SMRSARL) was established in April 1997. We were created in response to a rapid increase in the number of MRSA infections identified in hospitals across Scotland. We are commissioned by National Services Division for Scotland, with clinical and scientific advice from Public Health Scotland (PHS) . Since November 2013, the Scottish MRSA Reference Laboratory has been located within the New Lister Building, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
The SMRSARL provides a national MRSA reference service for isolates from diagnostic laboratories throughout Scotland. The services we provide include: confirmation of MRSA status, detection of various toxin genes and epidemiological typing of strains. We also provide advice on infection control issues and have an ongoing research and development program. We collaborate with PHS to provide data on the national trends in MRSA epidemiology in Scotland.
The Scottish Antimicrobial Resistance Service (SAMRS) investigates carbapenem resistance in Enterobacterales, Pseudomonads, Acinetobacter species and other healthcare associated Gram negative bacteria. We were commissioned in 2016 by National Services Division for Scotland, with clinical and scientific advice from Public Health Scotland (PHS).
The increasing incidence of carbapenemases across Scotland led to the formation of our service. From 2016, we began providing molecular detection for the ‘Big 5’ carbapenemase genes (KPC, NDM, VIM,OXA-48 and IMP). In 2018, we introduced molecular detection of OXA-23, OXA-24/40, OXA-51 and OXA-58 in isolates of Acinetobacter species. Finally, in 2019 we commenced our broth microdilution service. Broth microdilution allows our team to further screen for other mechanisms of resistance (including rare carbapenemases).
We investigate colistin resistance and other exceptional phenotypes demonstrated by Enterobacterales, Pseudomonads, Acinetobacter species and other healthcare associated Gram negative bacteria. We also provide cefiderocol sensitivity testing for multidrug resistant organisms (on request).
Enteric Bacterial Infections Service Contact Information
Since November 2013, the Enteric Bacterial Infections Service (EBIS) (formerly known as the Scottish Salmonella, Shigella and Clostridioides difficile Reference Laboratory (SSSCDRL)) has been located within the New Lister Building, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
The EBIS provides antimicrobial susceptibility testing and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) of these pathogenic enteric bacteria. The Laboratory actively participates in training, development and relevant externally-funded research and works closely with a number of agencies including PHS and the Gastrointestinal Bacterial Reference unit (GBRU), London.
The Diagnostic and Reference Parasitology Service (DRPS) (formerly known as the Scottish Parasite Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory (SPDRL)) was established in 1982. Our aim is to provide an efficient and effective parasite diagnostic and advisory service for Scotland.
We are commissioned by National Services Division for Scotland, with clinical and scientific advice from Public Health Scotland (PHS). Since November 2013, the DRPS has been located within the New Lister Building, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
The DPRS provides a service to Medical Microbiology laboratories across Scotland. The services offered include: diagnosis and identification of parasites in clinical material, diagnosis of human parasite diseases by immunological methods, advice regarding investigation of patients and the appropriateness of tests and finally, advice about prophylaxis and treatment.
iMatter is the NHS Scotland Staff Experience continuous improvement tool, developed nationally, and used within all NHSScotland Boards.
iMatter is designed to help individuals, teams, Directorates, Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) and Boards, understand and improve staff experience. This is a term used to describe the extent to which employees feel motivated, supported and cared for at work. It is reflected in levels of engagement, motivation and productivity.
The process is based on a staff engagement questionnaire which all staff are asked to respond to, which generates a Team Report. The team discusses the report and agrees the team strength along with up to 3 improvement actions. This improvement plan is captured on a team ‘Storyboard’ which the team then uses to monitor progress. The process is then completed annually.
For any questions, support or guidance regarding iMatter, or if you would like to share any iMatter success stories, please contact the iMatter mailbox at imatter@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
