Over 50% of Scotland’s population are women and there are 32,344 women working for NHSGGC. Throughout her life course, women and girls experience various health needs and risks which are not the same as men
[While we have used the term ‘woman/women’, it is important to note that some transgender men, non-binary people, intersex people and those with variations in sex characteristics may also experience issues and require access to women’s health services]
The Scottish Government Women’s Health Plan (2021-2024) underpins actions to improve women’s health inequalities by raising awareness around women’s health, improving access to health care and reducing inequalities in health outcomes for girls and women, both for sex-specific conditions and in women’s general health.
The ALLIANCE is working with the Scottish Government to create opportunities for women to engage with the Women’s Health Plan. For more information visit:
This final report provides a summary of the progress made on delivering the Plan over the past three years.
A ‘Women’s Health Plan: Review of the Data Landscape’ has been published as an accompaniment to the final report. This document sets out a range of publicly available data on the health of women in Scotland and highlights where there appear to be gaps.
‘Supporting the Women’s Health Plan: Highlights Report’ brings to life some of the work The Alliance have carried out with women, and third sector organisations, through their Women’s Health Plan Lived Experience Programme
To support the implementation of the plan, NHS Inform has a dedicated Women’s Health Platform, which sets out information on women’s health at key stages of life, from puberty to later years.
To explore the full range of topics covered visit:
Sometimes it can feel embarrassing talking about periods – but periods are normal. You are entitled to ask for the help that you need to experience good menstrual health and wellbeing.
Everyone experiences periods differently, but it’s important to know what isn’t ‘normal’. If you have any concerns, pain or discomfort during your period, there’s lots of help available. You don’t have to suffer.
This webinar covers the basics of menstruation, focusing on what is ‘normal’ in terms of periods and examples of period stigma, as well as common symptoms such as heavy bleeding, irregularity and how to manage symptoms. Panel: Dr Jackie Maybin (the University of Edinburgh) Alice Brooks (Women’s Health Plan Lived Experience Group)
Everything you need to know about PMS
This webinar focuses on Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and includes advice on managing both the physical and emotional symptoms that many experience on the run up to their period. Panel: Dr Ellie Golightly (NHS Lothian), Gill Meens (Mental Health Foundation Scotland)
PCOS mythbusting
This webinar busts some common myths about the condition Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), explains more about the common symptoms associated with the condition as well as when and how to discuss with healthcare professionals. Panel: Professor Colin Duncan (the University of Edinburgh), Professor Anna Glasier (Scotland’s Women’s Health Champion)
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a long-term (chronic) condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb is found elsewhere in the body. It’s very common, affecting around 1 in 10 of those who menstruate. For some people, it can have a significant impact on their physical health, emotional well-being, and daily routine.
Endometriosis UK is the national charity committed to providing support services, reliable information and a community for those affected by endometriosis
A recent webinar from EXPPECT Edinburgh on being newly diagnosed in Scotland, what is endometriosis, the diagnosis journey and pain management is available to view below:
This webinar offers the opportunity to learn more about endometriosis, the common symptoms associated with the condition, when and how to discuss with healthcare professional and how to manage symptoms. Panel: Professor Andrew Horne (the University of Edinburgh), Julie Burns (Endometriosis Support Group Ayrshire), Vicky Chapman (Endometriosis Support Group Dundee)
This Conversation Café toolkit provides resources to facilitate conversations, and encourage information sharing and peer support on areas within women’s health. The toolkit is a guide for delivery, which can be used flexibly by organisations, community groups, employee groups or with friends to set up, host and evaluate an independent Café.
For more information on how to access and use the toolkit, and the accompanying resource hub:
For any questions about this or additional information on the Conversation Café toolkit please email: whp@alliance-scotland.org.uk
Heart Health
Mythbusting women’s heart health – Webinar recording
The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) in partnership with the Scottish Government, hosted a webinar exploring women’s heart health.
Heart disease is a major cause of ill health and death for women in Scotland, and certain risk factors may have more of an impact on women’s risk of heart disease than men’s. Despite this, the awareness of women’s experience of heart conditions is limited and heart disease in women is not commonly represented.
Menopause
Menopause is when a woman stops having periods. Menopause means ‘the last menstrual period’ and around 400,000 women in Scotland are of menopausal age. While it is a natural and inevitable part of the life course, the timing and symptoms are different for everyone.
NHS Inform has a range of information – including 7 ‘Menopause Myths’ videos – on perimenopause (the period leading up to menopause when women can also start to notice changes and experience symptoms), menopause and post menopause including what to expect, available treatments and where to get support and help.
For a quick overview please see the following short videos and recorded webinar produced by The Alliance:
Menopause Wellbeing Webinar
Further Information on Menopause
Menopause at work
Menopausal women are the fastest-growing demographic in the workforce, so it’s important to be able to speak openly about menopause at work.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde recognises that for some the menopause is not always an easy transition. Some employees may need additional considerations to support and improve their experience at work.
Some people find it hard to manage menopause symptoms at work. It’s important to remember that the menopause is a normal time in women’s lives and that support is available to help you feel comfortable at work.
Changes in your hormones during menopause can impact your mental health as well as your physical health. You may experience feelings of anxiety, stress or even depression.
Further information and support is available from NHS Inform:
The National Wellbeing Hub Menopause resource provides you with guidance and support for managing your menopausal symptoms and helping your colleagues manage theirs.
Anyone can use the Healthy Minds sessions to raise awareness of mental health. Each session has a PowerPoint presentation and facilitator’s notes to guide you through delivering the session
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) enforces a zero tolerance policy on sexual harassment, with the “Cut It Out” program rolling out in 2025 to promote awareness, support and appropriate reporting. The program also ensures managers are equipped to handle concerns effectively. Staff can contact the Bullying and Harassment helpline at 0141 201 8545 or the HR Support & Advice Unit for confidential advice and support.
Are you a newly qualified nurse, midwife or allied health professional (AHP)?
The Practice Education team are providing access to two Clinical Supervision sessions in your first year of practice, although these may be provided locally for some disciplines. Through attending the sessions, newly qualified practitioners (NQPs) will have opportunity to explore the effects of your work, by recognising how you are impacted by this, you can then focus on solutions for your learning and development and maintain or build your resilience levels.
Clinical Supervision supports you to reflect, and develop your clinical practice, whilst embedding staff wellbeing and wellness into the working environment, promoting and establishing positive working cultures,leading to improved patient outcomes.
A brief overview of HFE-related Hereditary Haemochromatosis
This is common inherited disorder caused by a genetic predisposition to absorb and store excess dietary iron. It is more common in those with Northern European ancestry.
Symptoms
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Professionals
Patients
p.C282Y variant is not present
p.C282Y and p.H63D variants are not present
Heterozygous for p.H63D
Heterozygous for p.C282Y
Homozygous for p.H63D
Compound heterozygous for p.C282Y and p.H63D
Homozygous for p.C282Y
Reflex testing
Causes of iron overload
The Clinical Genetics department is situated on Level 2A of the Laboratory Medicine Building of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. The staff of the Clinical Genetics Department see increasing numbers of patients and their families every year at general genetics clinics, cancer genetic clinics and other specialist genetic clinics.
These clinics are held within the department clinic area on level 1A, at other Glasgow hospitals or for some conditions, at a number of community locations throughout the West of Scotland, including Kilmarnock, Wishaw, Ayr, Larbert and Dumfries. We also offer virtual appointments by video or telephone where appropriate, or may reply by letter.
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.
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)
Heather Rodger (Associate Practice Educator)
“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
We are delighted to announce that the Autumn AHP Education Fund opens on 30th September offering AHP Staff the opportunity to apply for funding to support further education for the following
Using Counselling Skills within Allied Health Professions course – delivered by Strathclyde University commencing in January 2026 – March 2026.
This course is open to all NHSGGC AHP HealthCare Support Workers and registered AHPs and is fully funded through the NHSGGC AHP Education fund for successful applicants.
Exploring Practice and Practices Module : Learning at Work – delivered by Glasgow Caledonian University commencing in January 2026 – May 2026. This course is open to all NHSGGC AHP Health Care Support Workers and is fully funded through the NHSGGC AHP Education fund for successful applicants.
Further information on both opportunities can be found in the links below.
Application packs will be available for both opportunities from 30th September. Should you wish to receive a copy via e-mail, please request through the AHP PE Team: ggc.gjnhahpepl@nhs.scot
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 Government have provided funding for an Enterococcal Surveillance Service aiming to describe the genetic epidemiology of invasive E. faecium and resistant E. faecium and E. faecalis in Scotland. Scotland has a high prevalence of vancomycin resistance amongst invasive E. faecium isolates. To investigate the reasons for this, Boards are kindly requested to submit isolates as described in the above communications. Limited outbreak support continues to be available and it is hoped that an improved understanding of the background epidemiology will allow improved outbreak support in future. For investigation of cluster/outbreak isolates please contact SMiRL (Glasgow) to discuss prior to sending.
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.
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