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Nuclear Medicine

The Nuclear Medicine – South and Clyde Sector has two general departments. One is based at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the other at the New Victoria Hospital.

DEXA (bone mineral assessment) services are provided within the Nuclear Medicine department at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and a copy of the DEXA information leaflet can be found here.

Specialist neurological imaging is provided at the Institute of Neurological Sciences.

Non-imaging and therapeutic services are also provided at the Royal Alexandra Hospital and Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

Information on each of these departments can be found by clicking the relevant links below.

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital

Opening Times

Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 4.30pm (Closed Public Holidays & weekends)

Contact

Appointment enquires: 0141 452 (8) 3659

If for any reason you are unable to attend your appointment, please inform us by telephoning as soon as possible during office hours. We will make you another appointment and this will allow someone else to use the one you cannot.

Location

The Nuclear Medicine department is on the first floor of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital main building. Follow signs to the atrium and take the Arran lift / stairs to the first floor. Take a left and the Nuclear Medicine department is in front (next to radiology).

This is building 1 on the campus map that can be downloaded from the link below.

Institute of Neurological Sciences

Opening Times

Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 4.30pm (Closed Public Holidays & weekends)

Contact

Appointment enquires: 0141 201 (6) 2032

If for any reason you are unable to attend your appointment, please inform us by telephoning as soon as possible during office hours. We will make you another appointment and this will allow someone else to use the one you cannot.

Location

Nuclear Medicine (SPECT) is located in the Department of Clinical Neuroradiology (Imaging), in the Neurosurgical block of the Institute of Neurological Sciences. This is building 7 on the campus map that can be downloaded from the link below.

New Victoria Hospital

Opening Times

Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 4.30pm (Closed Public Holidays & weekends)

Contact

Appointment enquires: 0141 347 (6) 8420

If for any reason you are unable to attend your appointment, please inform us by telephoning as soon as possible during office hours. We will make you another appointment and this will allow someone else to use the one you cannot.

Location

The Nuclear Medicine department is within the Imaging Department on the ground floor.

A map to the hospital can be downloaded from the link below.

Royal Alexandra Hospital

Non-imaging Nuclear Medicine services are provided within several departments in the hospital and specific contact information and directions is provided in your appointment letter.

General site information and directions to the hospital can be found in the main pages here.

Inverclyde Royal Hospital

Non-imaging Nuclear Medicine services are provided within several departments in the hospital and specific contact information and directions is provided in your appointment letter.

General site information and directions to the hospital can be found in the main pages here.

The North East Sector provides both a General Nuclear Medicine and a Specialist Nuclear Cardiology service. Please select which service you wish to access by clicking the links below.

The North East sector has 2 general Nuclear Medicine departments located at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Stobhill Ambulatory Care Hospital. These departments are responsible for referrals from Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Stobhill Ambulatory Care Hospital, Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Lightburn Hospital and the Dental Hospital.

DEXA (bone mineral assessment) service at Glasgow Royal Infirmary is located in the Nuclear Medicine department. A copy of the DEXA information leaflet can be found here.

Information on each of these departments can be found by clicking the relevant links below.

Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Stobhill Ambulatory Care Hospital Site Information – click to open

Opening Times

Monday – Thursday: 0900 – 1700

Friday: 0900 – 1630

Closed Public Holidays & weekends

Contact

GRI NM appointment enquires: 0141 242 (2)9885

GRI DEXA appointment enquires: 0141 201 (6)5302

Stobhill NM appointment enquiries: 0141 355 (1)1553

Change / Cancel Appointment

If for any reason you are unable to attend your appointment, please inform us by telephoning as soon as possible during office hours. We will make you another appointment and this will allow someone else to use the one you cannot.

Location

Information on the location of each department within the hospital can be found via the links below.

Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Stobhill Ambulatory Care Hospital Patient Information Leaflets – click to open

Most of the patient information leaflets can be found here on the main Nuclear Medicine pages. Seperate information leaflets specific to tests performed in the North East Sector can be accessed by clicking the relevant links below.

North East Sector

North West Sector

South and Clyde Sector

Specialist Services

Nuclear Cardiology at Glasgow Royal Infirmary:

Positron Emission Tomography (PET-CT) at Gartnavel General Hospital

Paediatrics at Royal Hospital for Children Glasgow

Neuro SPECT Imaging at the Institute of Neurological Sciences on the QEUH campus

Nuclear Medicine services in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde are organised into sectors. Details of which sector supports each hospital/specialised service are as follows:

North East Sector: Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Stobhill Ambulatory Care Hospital, Lightburn Hospital, Inverclyde Royal Hospital, and Dental hospital

North West Sector: Gartnavel General Hospital (including Beatson Oncology Centre), West Glasgow Ambulatory Care Hospital and Vale of Leven Hospital

South & Clyde Sector: Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Institute of Neurological Sciences, New Victoria Hospital, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Inverclyde Royal Hospital and Dykebar Hospital

Contact telephone numbers for each sector/specialist service can be accessed from the button below.

Referring Patients to Nuclear Medicine Services in Greater Glasgow and Clyde

The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations [IR(ME)R] 2017 make it necessary for all investigations using ionising radiation to be justified on an individual patient basis. To meet this requirement, the Nuclear Medicine service have produced referral criteria which, if met, would justify a nuclear medicine procedure under most circumstances.

To view referral criteria, visit the Nuclear Medicine & PET-CT referral criteria guidelines.

All NHS GGC referrers with access to TrakCare or NHS GGC GPOCS MUST use these systems to make a referral to Nuclear Medicine services (including speciality services).

Non-NHSGGC referrers must complete this form, instructions for completing this form can be found here.

Referring Patients to the PET-CT Imaging Service in Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Referral information and request forms for PET-CT imaging can be found on the West of Scotland PET Centre webpage

To view referral criteria, visit the Nuclear Medicine & PET-CT referral criteria guidelines.

In-patient Escort and SAS Transport information

The referring ward/doctor must read the following important Patient Escort Information Leaflet prior to confirming your patient’s appointment at either the Nuclear Medicine or PET service.

Further booking information and timing for in-patient SAS transfer can be found here.

More information about your visit to Nuclear Medicine can be found in the sections below. Information on services and hospital locations can be found using the sector links at the bottom of this page.

Important information about your Nuclear Medicine visit – click to open

Having a Nuclear Medicine Procedure

For general information about Nuclear Medicine tests and procedures, please read our Nuclear Medicine Test information booklet.

For information about the risks and benefits that come from using radiation, you can refer to our Your Nuclear Medicine Test and You information leaflet.

If a relative or friend is accompanying you to provide support during your appointment they should read the ‘Advice for Carers and Comforters’ leaflet. A copy of this leaflet will also be given to them on the day of your appointment.

Information for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Patients attending for a Lung Scan – click to open

Having a Lung Scan during pregnancy

For patient information read our Having a Lung Scan During Pregnancy leaflet, members of staff in the Nuclear Medicine department will also be able to answer any questions you have regarding your scan.

Breastfeeding following a Lung Scan

This test uses a small amount of radiation to obtain images which will help your doctor understand your condition. This will cause a small amount of radioactivity to be present in your breast milk.  Your baby should not ingest any of this radioactivity and the following advice will prevent this happening.

Before your test

  • If it is possible “bank” at least one feed in advance by expressing milk and storing in a refrigerator.
  • You can feed your baby as normal before the test.

The nuclear medicine department will issue you with advice and a form detailing when you can restart breastfeeding.

Test Specific Patient Information Leaflets – click to open
Treatment Specific Patient Information Leaflets – click to open

Radioactive Iodine treatment for benign thyroid disease

For patient information read our Information on Your Radioactive Iodine leaflet, members of staff in the Nuclear Medicine department will also be able to answer any questions you have regarding your treatment.

Sectors and Sites

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is organised into sectors based on location. To best find the information you are looking for please choose which hospital sector you require by following the relevant links below:

North West Sector:

Gartnavel General Hospital (including Beatson Oncology Centre), West Glasgow Ambulatory Care Hospital, Vale of Leven Hospital.

North East Sector:

Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Stobhill Ambulatory Care Hospital, Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Lightburn Hospital, Dental Hospital.

South and Clyde Sector:

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Institute of Neurological Sciences, New Victoria Hospital, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Dykebar Hospital.

Department Overview

Nuclear Medicine tests are used to make a diagnosis or monitor the progress of treatment and this involves the use of radiation. We make sure that the benefits from making the right diagnosis or providing the correct treatment outweigh the low risk involved with small exposures to radiation.

If you have been referred for a PET-CT (Positron Emission Tomography) scan at the Beatson Cancer Centre or a Molecular Radiotherapy procedure at Gartnavel please click the relevant link in the “Other Useful Links” section at the bottom of this page.

Patients attending Nuclear Medicine at Gartnavel

If you have been referred for a Nuclear Medicine scan or investigation, we will post you an appointment letter, patient information leaflet (also found below) and directions to the department. These should provide all the necessary information regarding:

  • Where and when to attend
  • What preparation is required
  • And answer many other questions you may have.

If you have any further queries regarding your scan or investigation, please call the department on the telephone number provided on your appointment letter and staff will be happy to help.

Opening Times

  • Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 5.00pm
  • (Closed Public Holidays and weekends)

Contact

  • Main department number – 0141 301 7900

Change / Cancel Appointment

If for any reason you are unable to attend your appointment, please inform us by telephoning 0141 301 7900 as soon as possible during office hours. We will make you another appointment and this will allow someone else to use the one you cannot.

Location

The Nuclear Medicine Department is located on the upper ground floor of Gartnavel General Hospital. Enter via the main entrance and head through the foyer, to take the lift (signposted “Lifts to all floors”) to the upper ground level, passing admissions on your left, and Deco Coffee on your right. From the lift bay on the upper ground floor proceed towards the kitchen area where you will see a sign directing you down the first corridor on the right. Nuclear Medicine is located at the end of this corridor.

Service Overview

The Molecular Radiotherapy (MRT) service offers a range of radionuclide therapies at Gartnavel General Hospital (GGH) and The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre (BWoSCC) and is staffed by a friendly and professional multi-disciplinary team. The team includes medical doctors, technicians, nurses, physicists, healthcare support workers and clerical staff. Therapies take place in either Beatson main out patients, ward B3 or Nuclear medicine GGH.

Opening Times

Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 4.00pm (Closed Public Holidays & weekends)

Change / Cancel Appointment

If for any reason you are unable to attend your appointment, please inform us by telephoning 0141 301 7621 as soon as possible during office hours to contact your nurse specialist. We will make every effort to adjust your appointment.

Location

Therapies take place across multiple sites on the Gartnavel campus. Please see your patient info leaflet, which will come with your appointment, for location details.

Contact Details

  • Main nuclear medicine department number – 0141 301 7900
  • Ward B3 number – 0141 301 7623
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist – 0141 301 7621

Additional Information

Service Overview

The Beatson West of Scotland PET centre is located on the Gartnavel Hospital Campus. If you have been referred for a PET-CT scan, we will post you an appointment letter, patient information leaflet and directions to the PET Centre. These should provide all the necessary information regarding where and when to attend, what preparation is required and answer many other questions you may have. However, should you have any further queries regarding your PET-CT scan, please call the department on 0141 301 7800 and staff will be happy to help.

Below is a video of what to expect when attending the department for a PET scan. Subtitles can be enabled in the settings menu at the bottom right of the video.

Additional Information

Location

The West of Scotland PET Centre is on the Gartnavel Hospital Campus in the Tom Wheldon building of the Beatson Cancer Centre;

1053 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 0YN

Scottish Ambulance Service

The Scottish Ambulance Service has a central booking service which allows you to book ambulance transport. If you require this service, please phone 0300 123 1236 at least 3 days before your appointment but no sooner than 30 days in advance. Lines are open from 8.00am to 8.00pm Monday to Saturday.

Voluntary Hospital Transport Service

There are several options available if you require Hospital Transport Services to attend your appointment. Please see contacts below:

  • East Dumbarton Voluntary Drivers – 0141 280 9527
  • Lanarkshire Voluntary Drivers – 01698 355 137
  • Ayrshire Voluntary Drivers – 0156 353 8008

Department Contact Details

  • Call: 0141 301 7800

There are 7 sites across the city of Glasgow with a Nuclear Medicine Department, 4 of these sites also have a speciality service. These departments perform both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. 

Links to specific sites can be found in ‘Information for Patients’ and ‘Sector / Site Contact Details’ below:

Other Imaging Services

Information on GGC PET and Diagnostic Imaging services can be accessed by selecting the service below: