You’d easily miss it if you didn’t know where to look. A single-storey building, all beige brick and grey roof-tiles, hidden in a corner behind the spectacular edifice of the main hospital.
From the outside it looks like an admin block – a place where pens are pushed and paper shuffled.
But inside, it provides a service so important that hundreds of people every year rely on it to help them get their lives back.
The Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit – part of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus – treats some of the most seriously hurt patients in Scotland – and to help it continue its important work it has launched an appeal for Registered Nurses and Healthcare Support Workers to come and join the team.
“Like so many areas of the NHS,” said Helena Richmond, Lead Nurse for the Spinal Injuries Unit, “the last few years at the Spinal Injuries Unit have been a real challenge, and I have nothing but admiration for the staff who do so much every day to provide the best possible care for our patients.
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“But one of the challenges we face is staff vacancies, and while the hard work and commitment of our existing teams goes a long way, we are looking for the right people to join us and help us go even further.”
That’s why the unit has launched an appeal for potential colleagues to consider a career at the Spinal Injuries Unit – and to help explain just how positive a place it is to work, three members of the team have agreed to tell their story:
Skylar McCowan, Staff Nurse, Edenhall Ward.
Skylar has been working at the Spinal Injuries Unit since October last year.
“I joined straight from uni,” said the 24-year-old from Glasgow, “and to be honest I’m so grateful to have come here.”
Edenhall Ward looks after newly admitted ‘acute’ patients, and Skylar is loving the challenge.
“This is a highly specialised ward, caring for people who are really sick, and it’s been pretty intense – a really steep learning curve,” said Skylar.
“I was terrified when I first started, but I feel really well supported, and there’s such a positive team atmosphere here that I don’t feel worried about asking questions.
“This is a unit for the whole of Scotland and I feel so proud to be part of it.”
In fact, for Skylar the team atmosphere is so strong at the unit that she feels she’s made friends for life.
“I’d recommend it to anyone,” she said. “It’s a really interesting job and I’m constantly learning new things.
“I feel like fate brought me here.”
Nicole Miller, Healthcare Support Worker, Philipshill Ward.
Of all the people in the Spinal Injuries Unit, Nicole perhaps has more idea than most about the value of the care the staff provide.
“Six years ago I fell off my horse and broke my back,” said the 29-year-old from Paisley. “I’m OK now, but I know first-hand how important the care we provide here is.”
The Philipshill Ward provides progressive care, helping patients with their rehabilitation once they are well enough to leave Edenhall.
Patients can be in the care of the ward for months, sometimes more than a year, and that’s something Nicole particularly loves about the job.
“We develop such a close bond with patients, and their families, during their time with us. We find out so much about their lives and share in so much with them. It’s a real privilege to be able to care for them like this.”
Nicole has been working on the ward since 2021, and for her one word sums up her experience – pride.
“The care here is amazing, and I feel like we’re doing something really special.
“We work to the highest standards – in fact I feel we’re setting the standard for the whole of Scotland – but at the same time there’s a lovely, fun team atmosphere.
“It’s a great balance, and it makes the unit a brilliant place to work.”
Megan Friel, Charge Nurse, Philipshill Ward.
“I was a student here, and this was my first post.
“I’ve been a nurse here for six years, and a Charge Nurse for a year – it’s go-go-go all the time, but everyone plays their part and there’s such a positive team atmosphere.”
As well as her managerial responsibilities Megan, from Paisley, gets to roll her sleeves up and muck in with the care provided on the ward, and that’s just the way she likes it.
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“It’s a balancing act, but I enjoy it,” she said. “The fact everyone is so closely involved in patients’ care is what makes this unit such a rewarding place to work.”
When asked if she would recommend the unit to potential colleagues thinking of joining the team, her answer is simple. “Definitely.”
She added: “It’s full-on here, and can be pretty intense at times, but it’s very specialised and we get to care for patients from all over Scotland. We get to know patients and their families – to be part of their journey over a prolonged period. It’s amazing to watch.”
:: To find out more about working at the Spinal Injuries Unit, or to arrange a visit, please contact Mary Hannah, Spinal Education Nurse, by emailing mary.hannah2@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
:: To find out more about the Spinal Injuries Unit and the work it does, go to the Spinal Injuries Unit website.
:: To find out more about working with NHSGGC, go to NHSGGC – Careers with NHSGGC