Staff & Recruitment

The Support and Information Services (SIS) are available to all NHSGGC staff. They offer a wide range of support and have links to other community-based money advice.

To find out more, click on the buttons below to download posters and leaflets giving contact details for the Support and Information Service.

These resources can also be printed off and hung in staff areas for easy accessibility.

Small numbers can be ordered via the Public Health Resource Directory (PHRD).

The Support and Information Services (SIS) are available for NHSGGC staff, patients, carers and visitors. They offer a wide range of support and have links to other community-based advice organisations, including those for money advice and resolving debt. This makes the SIS the ideal first point of contact for staff needing help and support.

The Support and Information Service (SIS) also provides a range of advice and support for staff who may be struggling during the current cost of living crisis.

We are pleased to confirm that, following an award by the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Healthcare Charity, the SIS will also be able to provide small hardship grants to staff. These will be provided as part of a wider needs assessment, to ensure any member of staff seeking to access the fund is also able to access sustainable, long-term support. The service is entirely confidential and your details will not be shared with anyone.

To access our hardship support:

1. drop in or contact your nearest SIS service. We are located in most hospital atriums.
2. call: 0141 452 2387. If we are closed, please leave a message & we will get back to you.
3. email: sis@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Visit the webpage for locations, opening times and local phone number, or email: sis@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

NHS Inform Scotland’s Service Directory contains details of money advice services across Scotland, this may be of particular use for staff who live outwith Greater Glasgow and Clyde:

Debt Navigator provides information and advice on how to deal with debts including- energy debts; mortgage, rent and council tax arrears; loans, credit cards and overdrafts; car finance and care costs. The website includes a web chat function.

Money Advice Scotland believes everyone in debt deserves to be treated fairly. They provide a range of resources for people going through the debt advice process including debt terms explained, help accessing your income and expenditure report, and benefits calculator.

A change in your circumstances, such as changes to your health, relationships, pregnancy or unexpected expenses can change what social security benefits and grants you may entitled to access. This section aims to assist those who may not be in receipt of all of the benefits or financial supports they may be legally entitled to.

Information on benefits and grants can be found here:

Information on local, free confidential money advice services in your area can be found via:

Other useful links

Department of Work and Pensions:

Information on benefits including Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Carer Support Payment, Child Benefit and others:

Social Security Scotland

Information on benefits including Best Start Grants, Scottish Child Payment, Child Disability Payment, Carer Support Payment, Funeral Support Payment and others:

The Scottish Welfare Fund helps families and people in Scotland who are on low incomes.

You must be 16 or older and on a low income, or getting certain benefits, to apply for grants available.

Help with living costs – Scottish Welfare Fund – mygov.scot

Home Energy Scotland is pleased to be working with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to offer you support with free and impartial energy advice and support.

They cover everything from simple energy saving tips in the home to transport and active travel advice. Home Energy Scotland’s friendly advisors offer vital support to colleagues across NHSGGC.

Who is Home Energy Scotland?

Home Energy Scotland is a network of local advice centres covering all of Scotland. Our expert advisors offer free, impartial advice on saving energy, keeping warm at home, renewable energy, greener travel and cutting water waste. We’re funded by the Scottish Government and managed by the Energy Saving Trust, and our mission is to help people in Scotland create warmer homes, reduce their bills and help tackle climate change.

We’ll help you stay warm and well

Recent research by Home Energy Scotland* has revealed that 70% of people in Scotland feel concerned about energy bills rising, with almost two thirds using more energy than usual during the first 12 months of the pandemic. The research also found that 59% of Scots have noticed a worrying rise in their energy bills already.

Simple steps like changing your thermostat settings in the warmer months, regularly switching your energy supplier or changing the way you pay can all make positive changes to the amount you spend on keeping you warm and well at home.

Home Energy Scotland’s friendly advisors can help you make the best use of your energy, so your home is warmer and your bills are as low as possible.

Make my home warmer

Find out if you could be eligible for home energy efficiency improvement worth, on average, £5000. Available to home owners and private tenants, Warmer Homes Scotland could see energy efficient home improvements – like insulation or a new heating system – installed in your home at no cost to you.

Go green and save

We can help you make changes that make a big difference to the planet – and your purse. From heating your home using renewable technology to choosing greener ways to travel, our specialists will help you make the right choice for your lifestyle. Take a look at our webinar programme to learn more.

Find funding

There’s lots of support out there to help you make greener changes and reduce your energy use. We’re even offering free ebike trails to GP surgeries.

Speak to an advisor

If you’re worried about your energy bills, call Home Energy Scotland free of charge on 0808 808 2282 – quoting NHSGGC

You can also contact our Advice Team by email at adviceteam@sc.homeenergyscotland.org – quoting NHSGGC

* Energy Saving Trust, “Climate Change Research” April 2021

Home Energy Scotland E-Learning Module

With the weather changing, the cost of energy might be on your mind at the moment. The new ‘Home Energy E-Learning’ module could be a perfect way to help you keep cosy this winter and save money on your bills.

The module will help you save energy at home to reduce your bills and tackle the climate emergency. It is brought to you by the team at Home Energy Scotland and is available through LearnPro under the CPD Category under show all learning and is called ‘Home Energy E-Learning’. You can also search using the search box and type in Home Energy to find the module. To add this to your learning, please click add and confirm. You can then click select to view the module.

The module will take you on a virtual tour of a typical home, identifying energy saving hotspots and help you discover how much money and energy you could save by making simple changes. You’ll get a personalised action plan to download and take away, with tips and details of funding and support to make energy saving home improvements.

Bloomberg UK have created a helpful graphic to show the cost of running different household appliances according to the energy cap scheduled for October 2022.

A carer is a person who provides or intends to provide unpaid, practical, physical and emotional support to relatives, friends or neighbours due to physical or mental illness, addiction, frailty or disability. This includes young people and parents. They do not need to live with the person to be their carer.

If this is you, you are not alone. There is help and support available for you and the person you look after.

Support from your Union

Many unions offer support to their members who are suffering financial hardship. Check with your union for details.

Unison Financial Assistance

If you are a member and you are experiencing financial difficulties, whether due to coronavirus or other circumstances, There for You can offer you support, including one-off grants.

If you are a Unison member and you are experiencing financial and emotional difficulties, There for You can offer you support, including one-off grants.

For information about other trade unions and professional organisations go to:

For more information on how the NHSGGC Board engages with 15 Trade Unions/Professional Organisations and takes forward staff side views to influence Board policies and to ensure that staff interests are properly reflected in policy development go to:

About the NHS Credit Union

Like all credit unions, the NHS Credit Union is a financial co-operative, owned and controlled by its members.

We help care for the financial health of members across Scotland and the North of England and our membership is growing at record rates. Almost 20,000 NHS workers are currently enjoying the benefits of being an NHS Credit Union member.

Our mission is to promote financial well-being and a savings culture in the NHS industry alongside reducing financial stress in staff and providing ethical financial assistance to those who need it.

For access to savings products and loans, paid directly from your salary the NHS Credit Union is easy to join. It can help you to budget your money or to save for holidays, unexpected spends or even your professional registration fees.

Am I eligible to join the NHS Credit Union?

The Safe Harbour Service @NHS Credit Union

Safe Harbour is confidential service open to all members, that aims to help those who may be experiencing economic abuse to take back control of their money.

The service is currently running a simple three questions survey to find out about member awareness of the service and to inform future developments.

A wide range of services are available to NHSGGC staff.

Discounts

NHS Staff Benefits offers discounts and special offers on many products and services from holidays and eating out, to gym membership. Log in to find out further details:

Mortgage Advice Clinic

Qualified advisers can help you find the right mortgage, matching your circumstances and requirements to the right product.

You can arrange an appointment by calling 0141 213 8353

Pre-retirement Financial Planning

Through NHS Staff Benefits, staff can access support in planning for their retirement or if they have been affected by recent pension changes.

Some stores offer membership to certain groups of workers, including NHS staff, giving access to discounted goods.

The Company Shop offers discounts to NHS staff, and also reduces waste by redistributing surplus food and household products from some of the biggest UK retailers.

Did you know that you can claim tax relief on the cost of laundering your uniform? This includes nursing and allied health professionals and also domestic, catering and portering staff.

You can also claim tax relief on registration fees that you are required to pay to your professional body. It is easy to do and you may also get a backdated sum. To check your eligibility and then apply visit:

Are you interested in learning more about easy retirement planning or how to understand mortgages better. Do you need support on how to manage your money better or maybe you feel you need a midlife MOT on wealth, work & wellbeing? Then these Open University courses may be for you.

They are free & range from as little as 2 hours study upwards depending on the course you choose.

You can get up to £500 every 3 months (£2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare.

For more information about how you can receive help with childcare costs have a look on the Childcare Choices website.

Problem gambling is defined as gambling that is disruptive or damaging to you or your family, or interferes with your daily life. Most people in the UK gambled or played the lottery in the last year and with the rise in the number of online internet gambling sites and mobile apps has made gambling more easily and readily accessible – activities like playing the lottery once or twice a week aren’t harmful however, for around 9 in 1000 people, gambling becomes a problem or an addiction.

Problem gambling can strain relationships, impact on work and have serious financial consequences. There is a risk that escalation of the problem could lead to harmful behaviours like running up huge debts or even stealing money to gamble.

For information on problem gambling and the signs of problem gambling visit:

Support and getting help

Support within NHSGGC

There is a dedicated specialist resource via Occupational Health via an addiction’s nurse who can be accessed via self-referral on 0141 201 0600. Further information can be found via:

Alternatively your manager may refer you via this link: https://nhsggc.opasg2.com/login/form Further information about this can be found here: Management Referrals – NHSGGC

Other external sources of support

Gamblers Anonymous Scotland

Gamblers Anonymous Scotland has meetings every day, and is free to attend. The meetings are informal and friendly, and there are currently around 70 meetings held in Scotland every day. Gamblers Anonymous also has a 24-hour helpline you can phone on 0370 050 8881.

A member of Gamblers Anonymous will answer your call – someone who fully understands the problem of compulsive gambling. Please note that this is NOT a crisis hotline. If you are in crisis or suicidal call 999.

Gam-Anon Scotland

If you have a loved one with a gambling problem, support is available from Gam-Anon Scotland. The organisation has supportive, confidential meetings that are separate from Gamblers Anonymous meetings. Call the Gam-Anon 24-hour helpline on 0370 050 8881

Breathing Space

If you’re struggling with the impact gambling is having on your life, or the life of a loved one, phone Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87 for support and counselling. Breathing Space is open:

· Weekdays: Monday to Thursday 6pm to 2am

· Weekends: Friday 6pm to Monday 6am

Public Health Scotland’s Virtual Learning Environment [VLE] has developed 6 modules aimed at those working in front line public services, with some sections dedicated to those in a management role. Please see list below

·       Understanding Poverty

·       Understanding Poverty, Stigma and Discrimination

·       Poverty Sensitive Practice

·       My Role in Service Planning and Design

·       My Role in Organisational Policy

·       My Role as a Line Manager

The module objectives are;

• Provide an overview of poverty in Scotland
• Raise awareness of stigma and discrimination associated with poverty
• Raise awareness of the impact of poverty stigma and discrimination on individuals and their health and wellbeing
• Introduce sensitive approaches to reduce poverty stigma discrimination

To access these modules please visit the VLE using this link Course: Challenging poverty stigma and discrimination (publichealthscotland.scot)

You will be required to enrol to access these modules

Please familiarise yourself with the Challenging Poverty Stigma Hub by watching this short VT. To access, click on the screen below:

• RCN Foundation Benevolent Services (For more information on how to apply for a grant)
• Money Worries and Financial Wellbeing Podcast (National Wellbeing Hub)
• Tips for Managing Finances (National Wellbeing Hub)
• Employee financial wellbeing (CIPD)
• Mental Health and Money Toolkit
• Money and Pensions Service
• Money Helper – Free money guidance
• Citizens Advice Scotland, Council Tax Reduction Tool
• Energy domestic consumer advice for Autumn/Winter 2022 from Ogem (Download the pdf:

Help with Bills Scotland)

My name is Barbara I have been volunteering at the Barrowfield Tea Dance for almost 3 Years now.

I started off unofficially by helping clear up some of the cups after tea time and then became an official volunteer through the NHS.

I enjoy volunteering at the tea dance and feel I play an important role over the year. I have gradually taken on more responsibility, such as making sure everyone has signed in the register and supporting people with their Bingo and dancing. Sometimes I feel I act as middle man between staff and some of the group as they will come to me to talk as they are familiar with me as a local person and someone who has been there since the early days.

The part I enjoy most about working at the tea dance is chatting with the pensioners and building up a relationship with them. Volunteering at the tea dance has helped build up my confidence, I feel more confident about starting conversations with people I don’t know very well.

During my time at the tea dance I have seen a few staff changes so I am now one of the people who have been working there the longest so I feel a sense of ownership and responsibility to the tea dance. I love being a volunteer and I would recommend giving it a go.

I’ve been a volunteer with the New Victoria Patient Information Centre for almost 2 years.

I am also one of the volunteer Queens Park Health Walk Leaders (there are now a total of six volunteer leaders).

I’ve been retired for just over 3 years and feel that one of the most positive steps I have taken is volunteering, however you do not need to be retired to be a volunteer!

As a volunteer I do a variety of tasks in the Patient Information Centre. This includes talking to patients/potential patients. This has helped me increase my people skills as well as my self confidence.

Amongst other things, I have enjoyed the training and meeting new people. The permanent staffs are friendly and extremely helpful. I also feel that volunteering has helped me keep physically and mentally fit.

I do believe that volunteering increases your self esteem and would encourage anyone who has the time and interest to volunteer.

My Name is Gio and I help maintain the fish tank at Gartnavel. I also help make the Gartnavel walled garden an even better place for patients, visitors and the local community.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering?

I enjoy the task at hand and having a wee chat with the staff, if and when.

What is your main reasons for volunteering?

To keep me motivated.

Tell us about something you have felt proud of in your volunteering role?

Seeing the end result of job at hand.

I’m currently based as a Welcomer/Guide Volunteer at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow.

I find it so rewarding, greeting and meeting visitors and patients as they enter the new Hospital. Just by putting people at ease, helping them check in on the new system for appointments or directing or accompany them to clinics, just gives you such a good feeling. You know you have made a difference, it’s so rewarding.

I have been told by patients the difference it has meant to them having assistance as they arrive for their appointments.

It’s so enjoyable and I work with a nice team of volunteers too! I’m so glad I applied to be a volunteer at the new Hospital it’s such a worthwhile pastime and one that I would recommend to others.

My name is Jim, and I help run the Football Memories Groups. 

What do you enjoy most about volunteering?

Meeting new people and hopefully giving patients a bit of enjoyment

What is your main reasons for volunteering?

Try and get patients to recall from their memory banks, what they can recall about football from days gone by

Tell us about something you have felt proud of in your volunteering role?

Having people thanking me for an hour well spent

I currently volunteer at Ward 1 at Larkfield Unit, Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

My role is to visit many of the elderly patients and talk to them about anything they like. This creates a distraction for them as they could be upset or worried or depressed about the situation they are in.

I also help out with meals whether it’s encouraging them to eat (as many patients lose their appetite while being in hospital) or helping them cut up their food. I thoroughly enjoy my role at Ward 1 as it is lovely being able to help a person that isn’t going through a good time in their lives.

Although some patients will not remember you, there are a few that will. As many patients don’t receive visitors, it is a pleasant surprise for them to find someone there to see them and it can really brighten up their day.

A sense of fulfilment comes from this role as, you can really see a difference in a patient from just a small conversation, they really take it to heart and are really grateful for your visit.

I am currently applying to study midwifery at university and hope that the skills/experience gained from volunteering will help support the selection process.

I’d recommend the experience to others thinking about a career in NHS.

My name is Margaret, and I help at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital as as Welcomer/Guide.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering?

I enjoy being of use and within the QEUH I feel I am useful. This supports others as well as my feeling of usefulness!

What is your main reasons for volunteering?

The volunteering role in QEUH is required for many less able patients and visitors due to the huge area containing so many speciality areas as well as within adjacent buildings which make the QEUH Complex. I am so pleased to be of help to all.

Tell us about something you have felt proud of in your volunteering role?

I can’t say I am proud of anything, however its a happy feeling when you have been able to alleviate some anxieties for patients and visitors by calmly supporting them to there appointment/other query.

My name is Pat, and I help at Gartnavel General Hospital, Ward 4C.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering?

The people I meet. I sing at ward events and involved in flower arranging expanding to more than one ward/hospital. I’m also involved in Screen Memories.

What is your main reasons for volunteering?

Do something useful but also enjoyable during my retirement.

Tell us about something you have felt proud of in your volunteering role?

Helping patients to laugh out loud. Singing and encouraging patients to enjoy singing the songs they know. I miss coming in if I’m not here… Patients know words to songs and to help patients with the words, it’s a purpose for them and me sharing an enjoyment.

Following a period of ill health in 2008, including a stay in the Old Victoria Hospital, I had to close down my cat sitting business to aid my recovery. In March 2010 I started as a volunteer in the Patient Information Centre (PIC) at the New Victoria Hospital, a post I am still in today.

My volunteering role gave me back some structure in my week, working on Wednesdays for a 4 hour shift, and with a background in Biology, I was able to man the information table in the atrium and help patients, staff and others in their search for relevant information regarding health improvement issues.

I thoroughly enjoy the interaction I have with people in the atrium and I think people, especially patients, welcome a smiling face and chat as they pass through the hospital. I combine this role in the New Victoria with my role as a British Heart Foundation Scotland volunteer – the latter involves fundraising and awareness raising.

I’ve developed a good working relationship with staff and volunteers in the PIC and often visit clinics and wards in the hospital to distribute relevant information.

My role is supported by training and development away days and I feel I have gained useful communication and work-related experience and hope that in the near future I may be able to put my skills to use in the wider workplace. I can highly recommend a volunteer role within the PICs for anyone who is interested in making good use of their spare time.

As a Naloxone Peer Educator in North East Glasgow area I was given a great opportunity in August 2017 to become part of the Naloxone Peer Delivery Pilot. This new role involves me completing paperwork, inputting data into the computer system and handing out the Naloxone kits.

To make this transition I became a Volunteer with NHSGGC North East. Having previously volunteered in a similar environment I felt very comfortable and the transition for me was very easy. There is a change of pace with this exciting new venture and with my fellow Peers we have been hard at work. In my volunteering role I am more in control of my time and effort as part of a team in my time is more fixed and I worked my volunteering around my other priorities. I did not feel any pressure as the responsibility and accountability within my volunteering was discussed and supported.

As a team we have great support from NHS staff, and our supervisor, and as I became more confident in my abilities I was given more opportunities to work on my own initiative. I feel very fortunate to receive training and support that has encouraged my development at a pace that worked for me. I’m also grateful for the opportunities to practice my new skills in a variety of different care settings with a definite emphasis on my safety this was enhanced with direct communication and understanding. There is a very supportive connection and my supervisor is able to ease any anxieties around being in formal settings. He instills a sense of calm and order which helps me to deliver training even in challenging circumstances but this is often where the training is most needed.

This opportunity has given me confidence to feel that I can make an impact however small by using my own experience. I am extremely thankful for this opportunity and as I continue my volunteering which I feel will equip me with certain values that will be useful as I move towards employment – structure, timekeeping, organisational skills, commitment, team working and self-respect for my own worth for what I can bring. This has been a great experience overall for me. It has allowed me to have a unique experience in a safe and nurturing environment, so thanks for the opportunity.

One of my main reasons for volunteering was to try and return to paid employment. I’m a lone parent with two daughters aged 7 and 9 years old. I was finding it really hard to get a job. It has been nine years since I last worked.

The drugs project I worked for was closed down and my manager had passed away, so it was a real problem obtaining references. I had volunteered before for HIV, Family and Carers Support Group and really thought it was worthwhile and it helped in my application for my University course in Alcohol and Drug Studies.

This volunteering position appealed to me as it covered the huge area of health improvement, a subject close to my heart, if you pardon the pun!

I can happily report I have been successful in getting a job with the NHS as a ‘sessional smoking cessation facilitator’. I’m certain my experience as a ‘Health Information Point Support Volunteer’ definitely gave me an advantage over other candidates. The support and encouragement from my Volunteer Co-ordinator also played a big part in my confidence to apply for the job.

Initially one of my major hurdles in taking up this voluntary work was childcare. I had to arrange for my two primary school age children to be picked up after school finished and looked after until I could collect them. This was due to some of the training ending at 4pm. It was tricky as I am a lone parent with no family support so I had to ask friends as a favour to look after my children.

I really enjoyed the training. It was great to be meeting new people and learning about health. I’m really interested in health and how we can improve our own health.

My Granny always impressed on me how important good health was ‘it doesn’t matter how much money you have, if you don’t have your health’. She was brought up in an era before the NHS and lost siblings to childhood diseases and explained what a financial struggle it was to call the Doctor to the house.

The benefits of volunteering to me have been huge. It’s made me feel I’m doing something worthwhile as I am trying to make people aware of steps they can take to improve their health or prevent them developing a serious illness.

I enjoy the face to face contact with the patients if I can engage them in a conversation about health matters I feel useful and feel a sense of achievement. I think I provide a welcoming and open face to the patients and that I have time to listen to their concerns.

By acquainting myself with health centre staff and other service providers so I can put a face to a name and find out about the service so I can really promote the service to patients such as Smoke Free Services and the Bridging Service.

Volunteering has improved my own health and well-being. It has given a routine and a purpose to my life and made me feel a part of something good. It helped me contact my own Doctor about my risk of breast cancer and I was sent for genetic counselling which explained my risk was slightly higher than average and now I receive earlier breast screening.

I would highly recommend volunteering it’s a great opportunity and has certainly been fantastic for me!

Volunteering with the NHS has been a very positive and rewarding experience for me. I started volunteering because I had been unemployed for many years due to ill health. I was advised by the Bridging Service to get involved with volunteering to get me back into a workplace environment at a pace that suited my needs.

Having suffered from ill health for so long I struggled to get the motivation and lacked the confidence needed to return to work. Volunteering has given me the confidence and skills to get back on track and hopefully return to employment. My health and restrictions meant I could not always be sure of how much time or when I would be able to commit but I feel this has improved. I’ve been fully supported from staff and colleagues and have been enabled to go at my own pace and work at a level that suits me.

My confidence has improved significantly and I have gained new experiences and skills. There have been many training opportunities and I have attended certified courses which will improve my CV. I think I have enhanced patients experiences by being helpful and considerate and keeping my own knowledge up-to-date, through attending information sessions and training, to then pass on to the patient.

I also feel I have enhanced and built capacity of the services I am involved with by being fully committed to my roles and always thinking of and suggesting ways to help improve services.

My volunteering has improved my health and well being by getting me out of the rut I was stuck in for many years. I now have a routine and I can now look to the future with a positive outlook, which I could not do before.

I’d recommend volunteering with the NHS to anyone who is looking to get back in to work and improve their abilities and confidence.

My volunteering experience within the health and social care sector has allowed me to work with various client groups such as vulnerable adults with learning disabilities, elderly to those experiencing homelessness with addiction/mental health problems.

My desire is to pursue a career which would allow me to work within the community in helping individuals to build the self-confidence, motivation and skills necessary to make and sustain changes to live longer and healthier lives. This has led me to undertake a master’s degree in the public health due to its goal in protecting and improving lives through health promotion and prevention practices.

The programme has advanced my understanding of properly applying concepts, theories, and the principles of public health practices. Volunteering within the NHS North East Glasgow health improvement team has allowed me to gain first-hand experience on how the theories in health improvement are being put into practice.

For example, I have been fortunate to shadow one of the staff in attending various meetings with schools in order to promote and giving information on the health week planning pack for schools.

There are various opportunities and support available depending on volunteer’s area of interest in order for them to develop skills and knowledge.

My mentor has been great at informing me of opportunities that may be of benefit to me such as training course and I hope to start volunteering with the smoking cessation team soon.

I can genuinely say that the team appreciate even the smallest time that volunteers’ can spare and I look forward to volunteering more with the team in promoting and improving health for the community.

I believe that the experiences, knowledge, and lessons that I will gain throughout volunteering with the North East Glasgow health improvement team will certainly better equip me to serve the community.

Elaine has been volunteering with us for over 5 years, in a variety of roles. 

She started her NHS Volunteer journey by helping out at the Langlands Unit, assisting the Activities Coordinators on the ward. Shortly afterwards, Elaine registered on the Dietetics course at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) and was persuaded to join the team at Ward 23 RAH at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. Here she assisted with mealtime support to patients.

Elaine has been actively involved throughout the past year in COVID-19 response work, helping out wherever she was needed. She has a special connection with the physio team on ward 23 RAH. 

Elaine explains why she got involved:

“Transitioning from an office job in the community pharmacy to frontline healthcare, I was keen to explore primary and secondary settings whilst studying. Over the five years, I have moved between different roles and locations, which has been an excellent opportunity to experience diverse areas of the NHS and play a part in helping staff and patients.  

I enjoy meeting new people and supporting patients during their time in hospital, whether it’s doing seated exercise, filling up their water jug, talking about food and nutrition or having a general chat to pass the day. Building confidence in interacting with patients and feeling comfortable in the ward environment has been great. As a dietetic student, I am gearing towards placements and working with the public in a healthcare role. Every shift is a learning experience”

I have been volunteering in the Brownlee since 2012. The Brownlee ward is a medical ward providing clinical care to a wide range of patients. The ward is fast paced, with many patients’ unwell and requiring acute medical interventions and a great deal of medical and nursing attention.

A significant proportion of the patients have some cognitive impairment. Some may be medically well, but due to complex social circumstances, they may spend a longer time in hospital whilst awaiting appropriate plans for safe discharge. Either home or to a care home environment.

Welcome to my day!

My volunteer day is a Wednesday starting at 11am. On arrival I sign in and report to the Sister/Senior Charge Nurse who gives me a quick brief and if lets me know if there is anything I need to know in order to conduct my duties safely.

I go round the ward and say hello to everyone, and introduce myself to new patients. Many patients don’t have visitors and its important to offer a friendly smile as it can make a huge difference to their day!

Around noon, I assist ward staff with the lunch routine. Supporting mealtimes is important as it’s a time when having many helping hands is important. Before the meals arrive, I check patients are ready for their meal making sure bedside tables are de-cluttered and wiped down, hand out white aprons to patients and assist with the implementation of hand hygiene.   

When the meals arrive, I help dispense milk and juice and offer company to patients who require some support.

After lunch, I spend the rest of my shift talking to patients on a one to one basis and explore their personal interests, or offer comfort and reassurance if required. It’s moving and enlightening to hear about their lives which are often long and complex.

I finish at 3 pm, it’s a very enjoyable and fulfilling day. As well as supporting the Brownlee unit, I often support the Volunteer Coordinator training and introducing new volunteers to other wards in Gartnavel General – medicine for the elderly. The Brownlee wards sits on its own. It’s refreshing to go visit other wards and see how patients are being cared for through therapeutic activities. We have introduced an activity box into the ward, this means I can play cards or dominoes and do a crossword or word search together.

Margaret Gunduz, Royal Alexandra Hospital Discharge Lounge Volunteer

Margaret has been volunteering with us at NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde since January 2020,  but has worked within the hospital at Paisley for over 40 years and as such is one of the best known and well loved faces here at the RAH.  Margaret explains how her journey in NHSGGC began;

“l started work in the old RAI so long ago, around 1979. In 1986 we moved over to the RAH and l worked there until 2004 (when l moved away to Turkey for a couple of years) but I returned to Scotland in 2006 and resumed my role at the RAH until my retirement in January 2020. I got involved in volunteering because when l retired l wanted and needed to do something to occupy my time and volunteering in the hospital and with the people l worked with seemed perfect, so I started in the Discharge Lounge.” 

Margaret has provided incredible support throughout the past couple of years as part of our RAH Volunteer COVID Response team. Within this role, she has helped with everything from coordinating PPE distribution to being a key part of our valuable Give & Go team.

Volunteer Manager, Harry Balch says “Margaret has just been such an incredible support to us. She is always happy to help and her in depth knowledge of the people and places in the RAH have helped us out on many an occasion! We are so lucky to have her here as part of Team RAH”

Once visitors returned to the wards, Margaret resumed her work supporting the Discharge Team at the RAH where she makes an enormous difference to patients waiting in the lounge, making sure they have a cuppa and a blether to help pass the time.

When asked about her volunteering role, Margaret says;

“I enjoy speaking to people of various walks of life and helping in whichever small way l can. Although I have worked here for so many years, l have learned a lot of new things while volunteering, like spending more time with people who maybe just need someone’s ear and being more patient with everyone. It has also been important for me to give something back to the service, after the care that I have received from the NHS myself.”

Margaret Owen, Vale of Leven Hospital Ward Support Volunteer

Margaret has been volunteering with us at the Vale of Leven Hospital since the beginning of 2022, once she had finished working in the catering department of a local school. Margaret volunteers with us on our elderly care wards at the Vale of Leven Hospital and in her role, she helps with the tea trolley, ensuring patients get that much needed cuppa and a bit of a blether.

Margaret explains how she got involved initially;

“As I was going to have a bit more free time, I wanted to do something to help others and thought it would be good to give back to the community in some way. I was very familiar with the hospital and so I got involved in my role on the older adult wards.”

Margaret has a busy schedule and when she’s not volunteering with us at the Vale every Tuesday, she has a part time job, and also volunteers at a local Food Bank café, as well as spending valuable time with her grandchildren.

When asked about her volunteering role, Margaret says;

“I enjoy interacting with the staff and the patients. The staff work so hard and they are so grateful of a bit of support, everyone is so friendly. Going to volunteer on the wards can feel a bit daunting, although I was familiar with the ward, volunteering has given me a much greater awareness of the environment and I feel that I am able to understand our older patients’ and their needs a bit better. It feels like I am able to help out and that I am able to make a bit of a difference to the staff and patients.”

Ross Davidson, Wayfinding Volunteer Inverclyde Royal Hospital

Ross has been volunteering with us at the Inverclyde Royal since December 2022 as part of our invaluable Wayfinding team. Ross joined just as visiting restrictions were reintroduced and so quickly became part of the Give & Go role, which ran alongside his Wayfinding duties.

Ross explains why volunteering at the hospital appealed to him:

“I originally got involved in with the IRH for a couple of reasons. I wanted to gain some life experience and to make myself useful. Initially, I wanted to fulfil my Boys Brigade Queens badge where I had to complete 30 hours of volunteer work of my choice and I so decided, as I already know so many of the staff, that volunteering at the IRH would be the best way to do this. The 30 hours were completed within the first couple of months of volunteering and I decided to stay.”

As well as contributing 2 half days a week at the hospital, Ross is also involved in other volunteering roles, as well as his busy school commitments. He volunteers at Police Scotland Youth volunteers which involves helping out at various public events when extra help is needed and also occasionally still helps out as part of the local Boys Brigade.

When asked about his role with us at the IRH, Ross says;

“I enjoy doing the little things that help out the staff and helping out patients even a little bit on what could possibly be the worst day of their lives. I also enjoy integrating into a team of volunteers and security staff that is welcoming, professional and hard working.

Volunteering at the IRH has improved my organisation skills, the paperwork involved with taking items up to a patient as well as taking multiple bags at once for different wards has helped with this. It has also improved my social skills when dealing with the public, especially after spending so much time in isolation from COVID 19. Volunteering at the IRH has been a big help to my experience and I hope to use the experience going forward.”

About this role

High numbers of people walk through the front entrance of our hospitals on a daily basis, especially at peak times of the day. Some may require guidance to find their way around or have questions they wish to ask.

Volunteer Guides offer a friendly and helpful welcome to patients, families and visitors and guide them to where they want to go within the hospital.

This service is one of the most successful volunteering programmes within our health board.

Key Tasks

• Actively observe patients/visitors at the hospital entrance who may need your assistance
• Be welcoming. Chat to patients and visitors and make them feel at ease
• Guide people from main entrances to where they wish to go, accompanying them if required.

Skills and experience required

• Communicate with staff and visitors in a friendly, sensitive, caring and calm manner
• Observe boundaries and work confidentially
• Have a willingness to undertake training and comply with policies and procedures
• Use your own initiative appropriately and contribute to the overall efforts of the team
• Work independently with minimal supervision.

What we can offer you

• A rewarding volunteer role
• Full training 
• Great experience for your CV
• The opportunity to meet new people
• The opportunity to volunteer in a hospital setting.

Time requirements

This varies across the sites. In general, we ask volunteers to commit to at least one session (3 hours) per week:

About this role 

Our Ward Volunteers provide friendship and conversation for patients: some may be elderly; others may not have any visitors as they are far from home.  The aim is to enhance their experience in hospital and potentially avoid them becoming frustrated, which can stem from prolonged periods of time where stimulation is lacking.

The role is a busy one which will require an organised and friendly approach.

Key Tasks

• Be welcoming by chatting to patients and making them feel at ease
• As a helping hand to hospital staff, assist in distributing food at lunch and dinner times
• Offer companionship to patients, chatting with them at the bedside and keeping them company while they eat.

Skills and experience required

• Communicate confidently in a friendly, sensitive, caring and calm manner
• Have good organisation skills and an ability to prioritise and manage busy periods of activity
• Observe boundaries and work confidentially
• Have a willingness to undertake training and comply with policies and procedures, particularly around infection control and social distancing regulations
• Use your own initiative appropriately and contribute to the overall efforts of the team
• Work independently but respond to guidance when appropriate.

What we can offer you

• A rewarding volunteer role
• Full training 
• Great experience for your CV
• The opportunity to meet new people and volunteer in a hospital setting.

Time requirements

This varies across the sites but in general, we ask volunteers to commit to at least one session, of 4 hours, per week.

Potential Volunteers will be risk assessed in accordance with volunteering guidance. All potential volunteers must complete the NHS Recruitment process, which includes appropriate clearance from Disclosure Scotland, and satisfactory health & reference checks.

Allied health professionals (AHPs) use their unique skills and knowledge to improve people’s lives. This role would suit someone studying to be an Allied Health Professional or a retired Allied Health Professional. You must enjoy interacting with people and feel comfortable in a ward or clinical environment.

Our rehabilitation volunteers help provide a positive hospital experience to our patients.

About this role 

This role is about engaging with patients to:

• Help reduce boredom
• Improve wellbeing
• Help patients work towards their goals
• Support the patient throughout their hospital stay.

On admission, patients are usually unwell and can be distressed. It is very rewarding to support patients through these stressful periods and work with them to enable them to return home. This includes helping patients gain independence with tasks that they may have struggled with previously.

Key tasks and duties

Specific examples of what our volunteers do:

• Assist and support the work of Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech & Language – depending on ward.
• Encourage fluids and snacks post physio
• Provide one to one companionship with patients as required
• Support patients to practise doing things that will help them to be more independent when they return home ie. assist with mealtime and serving refreshments and practice activities that matter to the patient
• Other duties may include: Assist and support AHP running exercise classes and activities for patients.

Time requirements

Slots will depend on hospital site

Volunteers must commit to at least one three hour slot each week for at least 9-12 months.

Note:

Volunteers will not be involved in any personal care roles. All of the above tasks may include group work or individual one to one sessions to be held in patient lounge areas, bedded bay areas or in patient-side rooms.

There are no Staff R&R Hub volunteering opportunities to apply for, but this may change regularly. Please check back for any updates or sign up for the mailing list by filling out the form below. We are grateful for your patience and understanding.

About this role 

In response to the pandemic, NHSGGC created staff Rest & Recuperation Hubs to support staff wellbeing. The hubs provide a staff-only area with complimentary snacks, hot drinks and a place to eat. It also provides an ‘Active Space’ with games and a ‘Quiet Space’ for relaxation and reflection. 

The role is a busy one which requires an organised and friendly approach. 

Key tasks

• Support the effective running of the Hubs and provide a warm welcome to staff and visitors making use of the space
• Serve complimentary refreshments within the Hub
• Manage stock, such as newspaper and snacks, to ensure an adequate supply at different times of the day
• Work with staff to provide a safe, clean and comfortable environment for all those attending the Hubs.

Skills and experience required

• Communicate confidently in a friendly, sensitive, caring and calm manner
• Have a good level of organizational skill and an ability to prioritise and manage busy periods of activity
• Observe boundaries and work confidentially
• Have a willingness to undertake training and comply with policies and procedures, particularly around infection control and social distancing regulations
• Use own initiative appropriately and contribute to the overall efforts of the team
• Work independently, but respond to guidance when appropriate.

About this role

The role of the Volunteer Visitor is to support anyone, whatever their world view, faith, lifestyle choice, religious beliefs, philosophy or none. The Spiritual Care Service support is private and confidential and non-judgmental. The purpose of the Volunteer Visitor is to be available for anyone who either self-refers or is referred to the service by either qualified or student Allied Health Professionals, Nurses, Doctors or members of their network, i.e. family / friends. The Lead Healthcare Chaplain oversees the Spiritual Care Service and each chaplain within their hospital site will supervise the Volunteer Visitors attached to the hospital where they volunteer. This meets with NHS Scotland’s Spiritual & Religious Care guidelines.

We currently have opportunities at:

• QEUH

Volunteer Role: Key Tasks and Duties

• The Spiritual Care Service offers a safe space to talk about worries, difficulties or changes that a patient or loved ones might be going through.
• Communication is key which includes the Volunteer Visitor will introduce themselves to Hospital staff and patients, family and visitors they meet.
• Spiritual Care Service is person-centred and available to anyone to access and receive spiritual and/or religious care and support. All the main hospital sites have a sanctuary which includes ablutions facilities.
• A Volunteer Visitor is a neutral person able to offer anyone an opportunity to talk, listen without judging and provide appropriate comfort and support as well as know when to refer someone on to a health professional.
• A Volunteer Visitor will communicate openly with the Healthcare Chaplain in the hospital when appropriate, in a person’s best interest.

Skills and experience required

• Open, friendly, polite, people-person able to communicate clearly, especially with distressed, anxious or worried patients, families and visitors of all faiths and cultural groups and those with no specific belief.
• Comfortable and knowledgeable with spiritual and religious care and aware of other support services available within NHS GGC and community.
• Desire and commitment to the role of the Volunteer Visitor.
• Reliability and excellent time keeping skills are essential.

What we can offer you

• A rewarding volunteer role
• Great experience for your CV
• The opportunity to meet new people
• The opportunity to volunteer in a hospital setting

Support

Volunteer Visitors will operate from an Acute hospital site under the supervision of the healthcare chaplains on duty. There will always be a spiritual care member of staff to guide volunteers. The Strategic Lead for Volunteering and staff are available for other generic volunteer information

Time Requirements

We ask that volunteers are able to commit to one session per week. Times to be agreed with Healthcare Chaplain.

About this role 

The Larkfield Unit is home to stroke services, the neurorehabilitation service and medicine for the elderly wards for Inverclyde. The Rainbow Garden within the unit has become a favourite with patients, their families, visitors and staff members alike.

We are looking for volunteers to help maintain the tranquil Rainbow garden space alongside the dedicated staff volunteer team at the IRH.

Volunteer Role: Key Tasks and Duties

1. To build a rapport with staff, and other volunteers
2. To help plant and maintain the Rainbow garden space, in agreement with the wishes of patients and staff, and in a safe and responsible manner
3. Assist in planting, painting and tidying tasks in the garden

Skills and experience required

• Some gardening skills and experience would be helpful, but not necessary
• To be able to be flexible and adaptable to patients, staff and other volunteers in an acute health setting
• To have a practical understanding of confidentiality
• Able to take part in physical outdoor activity
• Good communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal and as an active listener.
• A relaxed but motivated manner.
• A commitment to the importance of the outdoors and nature in supporting mental health and wellbeing

What we can offer you

• A rewarding volunteer role
• Great experience for your CV
• The opportunity to meet new people
• The opportunity to volunteer in a hospital setting and in a tranquil outdoor space

Time requirements

Wednesday evening 5pm – 7pm & occasional Sundays

About this role 

Music has been found to have a beneficial and therapeutic effect in these environments. Our ward based volunteers help to provide a positive hospital experience to patients. This volunteer role is about providing valuable musical therapy, to help provide a welcome distraction for our patients and to generally support their hospital stay.

Volunteer Role: Key Tasks and Duties

1. Provide musical entertainment within the rehabilitation unit, making use of the ward keyboard, or on any suitable instrument that you are able to bring to play.
2. Be welcoming by chatting to patients and make them feel at ease.
3. Work with the activity coordinator on a planned calendar of musical events for the ward

Skills and experience required

• Ability to perform a range of music on either a keyboard or an instrument of your own
• Ability to communicate confidently in a friendly, sensitive, caring and calm manner
• An ability to observe boundaries and work confidentially
• Willingness to undertake training and comply with policies and procedures, particularly around infection control
• Ability to use own initiative appropriately and contribute to the overall efforts of the team
• Ability to work independently, but to respond to guidance when appropriate

What we can offer you

• A rewarding volunteer role
• Great experience for your CV
• The opportunity to meet new people
• The opportunity to volunteer in a hospital setting and in a tranquil outdoor space

Time requirements

Monday to Friday, between the hours of;

10am – 4pm

There are no Support & Information volunteering opportunities to apply for, but this may change regularly. Please check back on this site for any updates or sign up for the mailing list by filling out the form below. We are grateful for your patience and understanding.

About this role 

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a Team who are committed to contributing to and enhancing the experience of our patients and their families who visit the Royal Alexandra Hospital. The front Support & Information Service is at the entrance of the hospital which is a busy environment, especially at peak times of the day.

We currently have opportunities at:

• Royal Alexandra Hospital
• Vale of Leven Hospital
• New Victoria Hospital

Key Tasks

The role will include diverse tasks including but not limited to:

• Organizing and stocking brochure stand
• Organizing and dating emergency food parcels
• Dropping off materials to wards and communicating with them about services we offer
• Help manage storage of materials and leaflets
• Actively observe for patients / visitors in the hospital entrance who may appear in need of assistance.
• Promote the Support & Information Services across the hospital.
• To speak to patient /visitors/ carers/people visiting the hospital and signpost onwards to services and the SIS.
• To assist with information management within the SIS.

Skills and experience required

• Communicate with patients, staff and visitors in a friendly, sensitive, caring and calm manner
• Observe boundaries and work confidentially
• Have a willingness to undertake training and comply with policies and procedures
• Use your own initiative appropriately and contribute to the overall efforts of the team
• Work independently with minimal supervision.

What we can offer you

• A rewarding volunteer role
• Full training 
• Great experience for your CV
• The opportunity to meet new people
• The opportunity to volunteer in a hospital setting.

Time requirements

We ask that volunteers are able to commit to at least one session (2 – 2.5 hours) per week for a minimum of 6 months.

There are a range of shift options, as follows:

Wednesday to Friday

10:00 am – 12:00

12:30 am – 14:30

14:30 – 16:30

About this role 

The GRI Museum celebrates the contribution that the GRI has made to medicine, surgery and nursing throughout the world. It was officially opened on 31 May 2022.

Volunteer Role: Key Tasks and Duties

• Supervising visitors to the museum
• Answering questions about the exhibits (we have a volunteer booklet with information about all the exhibits to support)
• Opening and closing the museum – we have a Standard Operating Procedure outlining how to do this.

Skills and experience required

No specific skills or experience required, other than a friendly and welcoming manner and ability to interact with people from all walks of life.

What we can offer you

A chance to share the history of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in a wonderful setting and meet lots of interesting people from all over the world.

Time requirements

We would ask volunteers to commit to a 2 hour session in the museum.

• Tuesdays 11am – 1pm
• Tuesdays 1pm – 3pm
• Wednesdays 11am – 1pm
• Wednesdays 1pm – 3pm
• Thursdays 11am – 1pm
• Thursdays 1pm – 3pm
• Fridays 11am – 1pm
• Fridays 1pm – 3pm.

Shifts would be varied depending on the availability of other volunteers. We are also keen in the future to open on a Saturday.

• Longest-serving NHSGGC volunteer spends 15 years supporting heart patients
• D-Day Veteran Is Guest Of Honour At Gartnavel
• NHSGGC Volunteer Says Singing With Patients Is The ‘Best Part’ Of Her Week
• NHS Volunteer Uses Personal Experience Of Speech Loss To Help Stroke Patients
• Volunteer Alison Swaps Hospitality for Hospital Welcome
• Why Volunteers’ Week at NHSGGC is Pure Poetry for David

Longstanding Volunteer Tommy turns 89 – 1st February 2023

The QEUH Volunteering Service and the Welcome Guides would all like to wish Tommy Kerr a very happy 89th Birthday today!

Tommy has had a full and active life, doing national Service In Kenya, then working for the Post Office and BT until his retirement. Not ready to stop at that, he set up a business delivering throughout Britain and Ireland.

Tommy and his dear late wife reared three lovely daughters and Tommy is always keen to see his grand and great grandchildren in Scotland, Canada and London.

He has volunteered twice a week at QEUH Hospital since the Welcome Guide Service commenced in 2016. He never misses a shift… rain, hail or snow. He does sterling work assisting people to find their way around the site to their destination. He does this always with kindness and a smile. His particular humour enlivens every shift for his team, and remarkably he is still looking for other ways to volunteer in the community.

• Caring Chevonne joins volunteer team at IRH
• Volunteer Margaret is the friend you haven’t met yet 
• RAH Volunteer Chiara picks up top volunteering award
• VOLUNTEERING: TRIBUTE TO NHSGGC’S RED T SHIRTS
• Voluntary duo praised for helping patients at Inverclyde Royal Hospital
• QEUH volunteer’s tribute to NHS goes on show at hospital
• Third Time’s A Charm For Volunteer Peggy-Nan.

• Tributes to volunteer ‘super heroes’ as Give and Go Service is concluded 
• The volunteers who made life a little better in the toughest times. 

• Volunteer Led Service – Personal Drop Off Points Lifting Patient Spirits
• BBC: Coronavirus: Volunteers offer lifeline to patients in pandemic
• Army of Volunteers Working to Help Patients and Staff

Team of the Year

Estates Team – Inverclyde Royal Hospital

The Estates Team are regarded as the ‘unsung heroes’ of IRH site.  They demonstrate true commitment, pro-active efficiency, planning and fast responses to requests from across the hospital.

During the pandemic, the team were key to enabling structural changes needed to ensure safe clinic areas and patient pathways, including for example, expansion to ITU within the theatre area, front desk area within the main entrance, extensive floor markings and signage. The Team also oversaw the co-ordinating & enabling of a major power supply project, working closely with clinical colleagues to ensure minimal impact to clinical care & continued smooth running of the site.

Employee of the Year

Sandra Forbes – Occupational Therapist, Larkfield Unit, IRH

Sandra is described as a passionate & committed OT who regularly goes above & beyond to meet patients’ needs.

In a bid to create something positive during the bleak time through Covid, Sandra decided to transform the courtyard garden area between Ward 1 & Day Hospital in the Larkfield Unit, and established the Rainbow Garden.

She recognised the therapeutic benefits of the garden and that it would provide a tranquil and secluded environment for patients, visitors and staff.  It has been used regularly since the improvements were made.

Leader of the Year

Claire O’Neill – Clinical Service Manager, Palliative Care

Claire is truly supportive personally and professionally to her team members, who work in a particularly stressful board-wide specialty.

This has been especially evident during Covid, when Claire has made a significant contribution to patient care and the wellbeing of colleagues.

She is regarded as having a can-do and solution-focused approach to her role and in the way she manages the Palliative Care service.

The nomination for Claire included a personal account of the support she provided to a new colleague and their appreciation of the ways in which she helped them integrate into the team and address workload challenges.

Innovation of the Year

John Hunter, Dr Lisa Gemmell, Dr Christina Evans, Dr Radha Sundaram – Intensive Care Unit, Royal Alexandra Hospital

The team developed a new protocol to support critically ill patients with SARS-Cov-2 who required RRT (Renal Replacement Therapy).

This was an alternative to the approach implemented by other units, and involved increased citrate for patients, and sought to balance the benefits of preserving filter cartridge lifespan and risks of anticoagulation associated bleeding.

Intensive support was provided by John as Practice Educator, who personally supervised operational issues, at a time when clinical activity was immense within the unit. The study showed an increase in filter life for patients on an increased citrate dose, without any adverse outcomes.

Volunteer of the Year

Harry Balch – Volunteer Manager

The Volunteer teams provide valuable support to staff, patients and families in the Clyde hospitals, including in wards, Give and Go service, and staffing the Royal Alexandra Hospital Staff Rest and Recuperation Hub.

The Sector felt it was important to specifically acknowledge Harry Balch, who expertly guides the teams, responding quickly to the requests from services, ensuring well organised and co-ordinated support is directed where it is needed most.

This was especially true during the pandemic, when many new volunteers came on board, and Harry had to ensure they worked within safe protocols, felt confident in their roles and were effectively supported.

Employee of the Year

Dr Aleks Marek – Consultant Microbiologist/Infection Control Doctor, Microbiology

Dr Aleks Marek is playing a pivotal role in leading the Glasgow Royal Infirmary (GRI) through the extremely difficult challenge of managing Covid. Aleks has helped every clinician in the North Sector during the Covid pandemic, providing advice and guidance throughout, running every Incident Management team meeting and being at the end of a phone for every challenging decision. She is always kind and helpful even in difficult circumstances. The GRI would not have managed through the Covid pandemic without her help, leadership and guidance.

Leader of the Year

Julie Graham – Senior Charge Nurse (SCN)

Julie Graham, SCN Ward 56, which is usually the Gynaecology elective and emergency ward, but during COVID has been used as a COVID hub ward and medical contact ward. Julie has led her team through a hugely challenging year and most recently some very challenging weeks.

Julie’s approach has been one of ‘can do’, whilst keeping patient safety and the wellbeing of her team at the forefront.  For the GRI site having Julie and her team approach every challenge with this attitude has made the difficult operational ward moves much easier. 

Innovation of the Year

Josef Rae, Connor McKeown and Susannah Waters – Physiotherapy COVID-19 High Dependency Unit Team

During the second wave of the COVID pandemic a team of redeployed Rotational Physiotherapists came together to provide a Physiotherapy Service to the COVID High Dependency Unit (CHDU). This was not only to assist in providing early rehabilitation but also to support nursing staff with oxygen delivery and nursing roles.

The objectives were to assist nursing staff with basic nursing care, allowing breaks from PPE, to provide advice and knowledge of oxygen and CPAP therapy to nursing staff that had not been exposed to this before as well as setting out to achieve the Physiotherapy goal of providing early rehabilitation for patients.

Volunteer of the Year

North Sector Volunteers

This especially young team of individuals has offered an invaluable service to our organisation throughout the pandemic. They politely and eloquently handled our front door for the general public at a very challenging time. Patients received their personal belongings that provided them with contact with their families and loved ones. They were remarkable young folk with a constant smile and support to our stretched teams on the ground and provided a significant contribution to patient centred care, consistently demonstrating an exemplary focus on our patients and ensuring they are treated with care, compassion, dignity and respect in receiving safe and high quality care.

Wellbeing Champion Award

Dr Ross Shearer – Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Specialist Weight Management Service

Dr Ross Shearer has been awarded the ‘Wellbeing Champion’ Award in the North Sector in recognition of the significant contribution he has made to the health and wellbeing of our staff, in taking action to ensure we are as healthy and as well as can be, and increasing our resilience as a workforce.

Throughout the pandemic Ross has provided psychological support and advice to colleagues across NHSGGC. Ross attended various R&R hubs across NHSGGC’s sites offering psychological support and advice, and offered sessions over the phone and in small staff groups.

Team of the Year

Team South

The South Sector would like to take the opportunity to thank all our colleagues for the outstanding work and contribution they have all made to patient care during the most difficult period we have ever experienced. This award is to put on record that all colleagues and teams across the South Sector came together to help support and assist each other to meet the challenges and deliver the best care for our patients during a global pandemic.

Employee of the Year

Terri Hunter – Organisational Development Lead

Terri has assisted a number of teams and individuals across the South Sector since joining the sector.

The appreciation and understanding of the work of OD has risen as Team relationships/Service developments and Organisational change projects have all benefited from her innovative approaches to resolving issues & concerns. Terri was also integral to the development and installation of the R&R hubs within South Sector Hospitals ensuring they were staffed and resourced during the most difficult Covid periods.

Leader of the Year

Katherine Bingham and Katie Ellis, Chief Residents – Department of Medicine for the Elderly

Together, the Chief Residents have played a vital role in facilitating good communication of the important issues within the department. They have organised and lead upon some key initiatives including:

• Monthly junior doctor forum discussions to explore administrative and wellbeing issues
• Compiling a weekly newsletter detailing latest updates that is circulated to all medical staff.

In addition the Chief Residents have lead on a comprehensive Wellbeing QI programme throughout the past 18 months. Numerous ‘events’ have been run all with the aim of boosting morale and teamwork in the trainees.

Innovation of the Year

Quality Improvement South Sector (QISS)

The QISS team have developed a strategy for raising the profile of Quality Improvement (QI) in the South Sector. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, all involved have endeavoured to mentor interested staff members as they undertake QI projects in our clinical areas. In the past eighteen months, 21 projects have received input from the team.

The Team have launched a share-point website as a resource for all south sector staff. This provides QI information and toolkits, links to our mentoring services and signposting to training opportunities.

Volunteer of the Year

Mary Nolan

Mary managed the Give and Go project allowing relatives, who were unable to see patients on the wards, to ensure their loved ones received some home comforts during their stay. Mary was also led on the return of the Volunteer teams to the Hospital sites ensuring individuals where supported and assisted during the initial stages of the restart addressing and answering their individual concerns.

Team of the Year

Virology Laboratories

All staff at every level within Virology have performed exceptionally well under extreme and sustained pressure over the course of the pandemic, coming together to not only design, establish and commission a brand new laboratory, but to enhance the existing NHS Lab in order to upscale and maintain large volume testing for COVID-19. This includes the clinical liaison and advice provided both internally and at the national level. A large number of staff volunteered to work excess hours and extended working hours in order to ensure that all could access timely and effective diagnostic testing and advice.

Employee of the Year

Bernadette Finlay – Clinical Services Manager, Laboratory Medicine

Bernadette was the driving force behind the rapid upscaling of current COVID-19 testing capacity and the formation of the West Regional Hub for COVID testing. Working tirelessly for months over the course of the pandemic, often on her days off to increase our COVID testing capacity, Bernadette grew capacity from 300 samples to 3,330 samples per day. This included inputting to designing and commissioning a bespoke Laboratory for large volume COVID testing.

Her ability to maintain her composure under high stress and during periods of frenetic activity was second to none and instrumental to achieving something in 3 months, which would otherwise take 18 – 24 months.

Leader of the Year

Dr Ted Mullen – Head of Service, Medical Equipment Management, Medical Physics

When COVID-19 arrived, as the Head of Service, Ted took on so much more. He galvanised the Gartnavel General Team to use their innovative technical skills to repurpose anaesthetic machines into ventilators. He worked with the Louisa Jordan Hospital Team to medically equip the facility and make it fit for purpose. His leadership qualities, knowledge and expertise and can do attitude was recognised by the Scottish Government and as a result he was asked to direct the NHS Scotland project that was to result in the repurposing of approximately 200 anaesthetic machines into ventilators.

Innovation of the Year

Robin Dade, Kirsty Jones & Craig Paterson – Glasgow Royal Infirmary Nuclear Physics Team

The department successfully established the UK’s first routine Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) Coronary Flow Reserve (CFR) service. The service was set-up using a state of the art Solid State Gamma Camera (the first of its type in Scotland), and was done in collaboration with both GE Healthcare and Cardiology colleagues in Italy. This new service is now available to Cardiology referrers throughout the West coast of Scotland, from Dumfries and Galloway to the Western Isles. Establishing a SPECT CFR service has been critical in giving clinicians in NHSGGC an additional routinely available tool to aid with the assessment of diagnostically complex cardiac patients.

Team of the Year (joint winners)

Care at Home Service

This service entered the pandemic in a state of upheaval following a difficult review process and requiring the introduction of a new structure. They maintained support to customers throughout the pandemic and did not suspend or reduce a single package of support. Dealt with higher demand of community and hospital referrals. An anonymised customer survey indicated positive perceptions of the service.

District Nursing Service

The District Nursing service continued to visit vulnerable patients often the only service received by patients and families at the beginning of the pandemic. They provided emotional, psychological and spiritual support to patients and their families allowing care to be provided in the patient’s place of choosing. They demonstrated effective team working, resilience, flexibility and creativity to ensure safe, effective person centred care to meet the increased demands on the service.

Employee of the Year

Kerry Donoghue and Michelle Dalgarno

Kerry and Michelle were redeployed to support the setting up and running of the Kirkintilloch Covid Assessment Centre, including providing clinical induction to local GPs and providing a significant proportion of clinical shifts to assess extremely ill and deteriorating Covid patients during the first wave. They demonstrated extreme skill in developing safe and effective practices and procedures for the CAC. They provided enhanced clinical support to Care Home residents when homes were in active Covid outbreak during the first wave. Feedback from Care Home staff, GP’s and families is this this service was of significant value.

Leader of the Year

Vandrew McLean

Vandrew joined the HSCP in March 2020 and quickly made a positive contribution. She ensured that business support teams were mobilised effectively to support front line staff during these challenging times by supporting the set-up of the PPE hub, setting up a team to support the covid vaccination programme/testing, undertaking risk assessments and working with council colleagues across our buildings and putting in place arrangements to ensure these were safe places for staff to continue to deliver critical services

Innovation of the Year (joint winners)

Perinatal Project – Children & Families and Primary Care Mental Health

Working in partnership the mental health services and health visitors provided information sessions and access to an enhanced range of treatment options for new mothers to support children’s wellbeing.  They developed a project plan capturing a range of services that support mothers experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties in the post-natal period.  They provided new mothers access to group work, access to 1-1 sessions using tools to support mental health and wellbeing through universal services.

Paediatric Dental Team, Public Dental Service

The Public Dental Service provides care to children who have additional needs, medical conditions and extensive decay and who are at risk of high levels of associated pain. In order to alleviate this dental pain and discomfort, historically the best available option has been extractions under general aesthetic. However, due to the Covid pandemic and restrictions on access to theatre the team took the opportunity to look at innovative and alternative models of care that could improve child health and wellbeing allowing them to avoid a GA pathway and receive less invasive and more holistic dental care in a timely manner, in a local dental setting.

Volunteer of the Year

Public Service User and Carer Group

During the lockdown period the group supported the development and distribution of regular public health information through a monthly newsletter. The publication highlighted the spread and impact of Covid within and across East Dunbartonshire, promoting the community immunisation clinics and advised where to access the most up to date data and information towards keeping their families safe and well. The group developed a series of public health ‘Biteable’ social media videos; detailing crucial information for the local community, including changes and how to access General Practice. 

Team of the Year

Care Home Assurance Team

From the beginning of the pandemic our commissioning team started daily contact with care homes.

When outbreaks started, it became clear they needed additional support. Many found themselves short of staff as they too became sick with the virus or were self-isolating/shielding.

Having identified the growing problem, the HSCP quickly mobilised and the Care Home Assurance team was created.

The team was made up of staff from a range of services including commissioning, nursing, rehab, social work and older adult’s mental health. The aim was to provide support to all 13 care homes in East Renfrewshire to help control any COVID-19 outbreaks, ensure preventative measures were in place and to bring health and social care services together to best support each home. 

Employee of the Year

Jennifer Clark – Business Manager for Recovery & Resources

Jennifer Clark’s role encompasses responsibility for premises, lead role for Health and Safety, updating and maintaining the Business Continuity in addition to having direct line management for nine members of staff.

Jennifer started the role in January 2020 and within two months the HSCP had moved to an emergency footing as the partnership responded to the pandemic.

She has worked closely with staff members to build and develop team work across the teams she has responsibility for, creating a “can do” culture where staff are keen to work together and engage in new approaches to support the partnership to achieve its key objectives.  

Leader of the Year

Mairi-Clare Armstrong – Governance and Systems Manager

Mairi-Clare manages over 100 members of staff. This includes the entire Business Support output for the HSCP, Facilities Management for Eastwood and Barrhead Health and Care Centres, HSCP Change Programme (now Recovery and Renewal), Information and Systems, Governance and the DMT Personal Assistants.

Mairi-Clare is the backbone of the HSCP, she helps everything behind the scenes work together and empowers her teams to deliver their own work to a high standard. While her normal role makes her invaluable to the HSCP, she has also been responsible for leading significant projects during the pandemic.

Innovation of the Year

Children’s Services Partnership, Enrichment Activity Programme

During the second lockdown the HSCP Children & Families service was worried about the young people known to their service, as they were spending lots of time indoors and had disengaged from learning, activities, clubs and their communities.

They wanted to deliver a project that would provide young people of all ages the opportunity to try new skills outside of their home, build confidence, encourage them to socialise again and to help them feel part of their community.

As a result the Enrichment Activity Programme was devised. The team went the extra mile at every stage of this project. They provided an enriching experience for the young people they support.

Local Staff Winners

eHealth Team – Setup and Management of Community Assessment Centres/Testing

This significant project needed to be set up rapidly through a collaboration of work by all of the eHealth team (Operations, Strategy and Programmes, Information Management and Health Records). Operations and telecommunications were pivotal in setting up a new call centre with all of the appropriate telephony and IT kit. The set-up had to be done in a way that utilised existing clinical systems capability to support the newly defined pathways – ensuring those patients requiring tests, admitted or remotely monitored were captured and managed accordingly. A completely new patient booking system which enabled patients to contact the Centre to change appointments or to email queries relating to the vaccine, where appropriate.  

eHealth Team – Setup and recording of Virtual Patient Appointments

The focus of this project was to rapidly accelerate the set-up, management and data recording of Virtual Patient Appointments for acute and primary care. This allowed optimisation of virtual patient appointment management including the delivery of 

• ACRT management of referrals
• Establishing processes for Patient Initiated Review.

This project was critical to the Board’s ability to maintain outpatient and GP appointments in response to the pandemic. 

This programme of work involved all eHealth teams including, Strategy and Programmes, Operations, Information Management, Information Governance and Health Records staff.

eHealth Team – contribution to the Board Covid Vaccination Programme

The eHealth team was pivotal in working with the NHSGGC Vaccination team to put the technology, telephony, reporting and for recruiting, defining working processes and training the contact centre staffing required to support the Board Covid Vaccination Programme. 

eHealth and the wider GGC vaccination team worked with NES to develop the Vaccination Management Tool which was rolled out across NHSScotland to record vaccinations across all settings. 

eHealth teams also supported the set-up of the vaccination centres for staff and the public without which the Board would not have been able to start the vaccination programme as swiftly as it did and to maintain it as efficiently as it is now doing.

eHealth Team – set up and management of Flow Hubs

This project involved the rapid Introduction of Patient Flow Hubs to direct patients to appropriate services to reduce unnecessary pressures on Emergency Department attendances. eHealth were key stakeholders in the redesign of urgent care pathways to direct patients to the appropriate service where this is clinically appropriate and safe to do so. A key element of the change was the implementation of a Flow Navigation Centre (Hub) to support the appropriate flow of patients.

Health Records played a central role in coordinating operational activity to ensure patients were booked in a timely manner. The collaboration and flexibility demonstrated by eHealth teams cannot be understated and formed a key part of the Board’s response to improving unscheduled care.

Team of the Year

Inverclyde Royal Hospital Estates Team and Ross Campbell – Site Operational Estates Manager

The Inverclyde Royal Hospital Estates Team were faced with replacing non-compliant switchgear components to safeguard the resilience of the main hospital electrical supply to both critical and non-critical services on the site. Ross Campbell, Site Operational Estates Manager, and his team embarked on an extensive and very difficult programme of modernising electrical switchboard components. This project had to be carried out whilst the hospital was at full patient capacity, and at the height of the pandemic in 2020 which added another level of complexity. The team have shown a huge commitment to their roles and were acutely aware of the impact that would be experienced if the work was not carried out meticulously.

Employee of the Year

Mark McKaig – Coordinating Supervisor, Estates, QEUH

In a department which has endured significant challenges and change over the last couple of years, including through the COVID Pandemic, Mark has continually demonstrated his significant value to the Estates Team and has played a pivotal role in the evolution of the Estates department, who are widely respected throughout the campus for their committed, caring and professional approach.

Mark’s work ethos and approach to his day to day duties and responsibilities are exemplary and he sets such high standards in all aspects of his role, which has had a positive impact across the Estates Team.  

Leader of the Year

Billy Hunter – Deputy Director (FM & Corporate)

Billy displayed a level of leadership across Soft FM services during the COVID Pandemic, which was pivotal in ensuring these key services were supported to meet the demand and challenges faced, often changing on an hourly basis.

Over the last 18 months, Billy has developed an approach for his team, which has seen positive improvements across the full service, whether recruiting staff to support the increased cleaning requirement, sourcing cleaning materials, ensuring updated guidance was implemented and perhaps most importantly ensuring staff on the front line felt supported by their management teams.

The overall approach and impact of Billy’s leadership has seen improved staff morale.

Innovation of the Year

Tom Fulton – Assistant Head of Estates (North), Glasgow Royal Infirmary (proactive approach in the development of the GRI Museum Project

Tom Fulton has always used both his 30+ years’ experience and knowledge of the site to ensure best value with local projects and is considered an active participator in the development of the site and future investment.

Tom has also assisted and been very proactive in the development of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary Museum project which will allow both staff and patients to access the history of the historical site for now and the future. 

Tom who will shortly retire, is an ambassador of Glasgow Royal Infirmary and has always put patient needs and environment at the core of everything he does.

Volunteer of the Year

Kerry Johnstone, Alan Shaw, Matt McWilliams and Joe Kimmet – Assistant Technical Officers, Cowlairs Decontamination Unit

During the early stages of the Pandemic, the workload within the Cowlairs Decontamination Unit significantly reduced. All staff were offered the opportunity to volunteer to be reassigned to support other services, principally at Hillington Laundry where there was significant pressure on provision of services.

These staff volunteered to be reassigned, taking on the challenge of working in a different area and a different service at Hillington laundry, and assisting with the increased demand. This had a significant impact on the service, proving much needed support in the provision on laundry for patients and also scrub suits for relevant departments.

Team of the Year

Payroll Team

Since the start of the pandemic most services have experienced additional demands and pressures while also coping with the sudden shift in March 2020 from business as usual to living and working safely in a Covid world while still providing business critical services.

During this time Payroll Services has been one of the hidden hero services for the Health Board. Workloads across the service increased significantly, Payroll teams have been required to process several thousand additional temporary and permanent staff arrangements, over 6,000 new starts in one month. In addition there have been multiple pay awards, new terms and conditions, new service areas requiring support like vaccination services and the complexity of the Covid Recognition Payments, all of which added to the Payroll Services burden.

Employee of the Year

Fiona Buchanan

Fiona has been instrumental in the costings for the Covid-19 costs around Test & Protect, Vaccinations and Public Health. This has involved a lot of extra work and Fiona has showed great dedication and commitment throughout the pandemic. She has been the key link with all the corporate departments and her assistances has been invaluable to the Finance Team and the Corporate areas she deals with.

She has also been a great support to all the senior management team as there has been transition between roles. Fiona takes a very balanced view on issues and always considers both sides of an argument.

Leader of the Year

Elaine Dyer

Elaine has been the Senior Management Accountant in the Regional team through some particularly challenging times.

There have been many difficulties within the team which Elaine dealt with this admirably switching tasks between team members and engaging with her Principal Finance Manager and Head of Finance.

During the lockdowns and covid period Elaine encouraged her staff to meet weekly on a Friday afternoon for some downtime to help and encourage wellbeing within her team. These times seem to have been thoroughly enjoyed by her team.

Innovation of the Year

Alan Hynd

Value management is a national improvement collaborative that aims to test and spread an innovative model that supports clinical, care and finance teams to apply quality improvement methods with combined quality and cost data at team level to deliver improved patient outcomes, experience and value.

The collaborative, led by Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s ihub, working in partnership with NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) launched in November 2019.

As part of the value management (VM) multidisciplinary team Alan spent a lot of time designing a process to quickly capture the required finance data for the VM box score.

Team of the Year

Occupational Health Nursing Team

The Occupational Health Nursing Team led a significant piece of work in supporting all our staffs’ health and wellbeing through the last 19 months. Not only have the team continued to provide support on a personal basis to individuals and managing attendance they have also and were heavily involved in the early days supporting the Vaccination Programme and Fit Testing and providing advice and support to the staff for risk assessments. They continue to provide ongoing support to our staff with Long-Covid.

Employee of the Year

Allan Hughes

Allan has shown leadership and commitment in coordinating and supporting the Fit Test Programme for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC). He has gained significant knowledge in the field and has provided advice and support through not only the Health and Safety Team but to Managers and Services throughout the Board.

Leader of the Year

Nareen Owens

Nareen as our Depute Director of Human Resources & Organisational Development has not only supported our overarching one team approach but has shown true leadership in supporting all of our teams to deliver our current services but also a range of new services to support COVID over the past year.

Innovation of the Year

Test and Protect

Steven Munce, Neil McGhie and Morag Kinnear along with others in recruitment and other teams helped set up the Test and Protect Team from scratch. Not only recruiting everyone but ensuring all the rosters and the systems were in place to support Public Health.

Volunteer of the Year

R&R Hubs

The Organisational Development Team initially helped to set up the R&R Hubs across all the main sites which included everything from organising the teas and coffees, organising furniture to ensuring that all the relevant staff support was put in place and they continue to support the Programme overall.

Team of the Year

Care and Support at Home

Inverclyde HSCP Care and Support at Home service provides personal care and housing support to adults living at home, with the majority of service users being older people. The service works over seven days and includes Community Alarm and Technology Enabled Care which operates on a 24 hour basis.

Care and Support at Home staff continued to provide essential service to all service users from the start of the pandemic and at a time when there was little known about the situation or how long it would continue. Every member of staff knows how essential the service is for people at home and accepted the need to continue as normal in the face of this crisis.

Employee of the Year

Susan Lindsay – Nurse Team Lead, Primary Care Mental Health Team

When the Covid-19 pandemic arrived, Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) had to reconfigure to a critical Mental Health Hub. The purpose of this was to ensure reactive capacity for community urgency and prioritised scheduled service delivery in an accessible and sustainable way for more than two thousand service users.

Susan was pivotal in identifying and outlining the essential service areas at the initial outset of the pandemic. This led into the necessary conversations and planning with other CMHS team leads to establish the strategy, operationalise and ensure sustainability of the priority elements.

Leader of the Year

Kate Christmas – Service Manager, Childrens Services

Kate began her career in social work in February 2008. Her capacity to form strong and lasting relationships was a hallmark of her as a person and a professional. She has always appeared calm and serene and had been able to instil this in colleagues earning immediate respect of all who worked with her. In response to unprecedented recruitment challenges in Inverclyde over the past 18 months and in recognition of the increasing challenges for our new social workers, Kate established a local academy. This has helped to equip our newly qualified staff to the best possible standard as they embark on their career.

During the pandemic she displayed all of the qualities and attributes that are required by a strong and compassionate leader. Properly supported and nurtured staff in Inverclyde were able to maintain a high level of contact with service users throughout the pandemic. Sadly, our friend and colleague Kate Christmas passed away on the 14th of July this year after a very brief illness.

Innovation of the Year

Community Diabetes Team

Since the onset of COVID-19 in March 2020 the team reviewed their practices and ways of working, moving to more streamlined and digital processes. As part of this process they have taken forward and successfully piloted for Inverclyde HSCP, video consultation calls via the NHS Near Me / Attend Anywhere web-based platform. Their Attend Anywhere model focuses on people and processes, not just technology.

People have been seen more promptly and waiting times minimised. They have been more effective in reaching vulnerable people for example those with mental health issues and mobility issues and for people with a history of non-engagement with services. 

Team of the Year (joint winners)

Pharmacy Critical Care Team

At the height of the pandemic the number of critical care beds increased 4 fold. Working collaboratively across sites the critical care team rapidly upskilled and trained pharmacy nursing and medical staff, highlighted and monitored medicines shortages and risks, reviewed their clinical service provision over 7 days providing leadership and expertise locally and nationally. The core team was supplemented by staff from a number of other areas who volunteered to be redeployed to support critical care either in direct patient care or in supporting roles.

The Vaccine Delivery Team

Vaccine delivery required a new way of working that crossed different teams and settings to provide pharmaceutical expertise, product stock management and delivery of vaccine to staff, care homes and community vaccination clinics. This was a true multi-disciplinary approach from pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy support workers and administrative staff from across all areas of our service including, Pharmacy Public Health, Pharmacy Distribution Centre, Regional Quality Assurance and prescribing support

Employee of the Year

Denise Ferguson – Pharmacy Technician, West Dunbartonshire HSCP Prescribing Team

Denise is a Care at Home Pharmacy Technician who always shows care and compassion when dealing with patients, she goes above and beyond to help patients at all times. She is an integral part of the team. She liaised closely with the GP practices to ensure communication was maintained. She spent time supporting other team members, promoting their mental wellbeing and ensuring support available when people were struggling with workload. Denise is also the HSCP’s cold chain champion and had an essential role in the opening and running of 3 COVID vaccination clinics whilst maintaining her substantive post’s workload.

Leader of the Year

Dr Samantha Carmichael – Lead Pharmacist Clinical Trials/Research & Innovation

Sam is an inspirational leader of the Research & Innovation Clinical Trials Pharmacy Service. Her leadership skills have been outstanding over the last 18 months in dealing and responding to the impact of COVID-19. Sam has led the team setting up COVID-19 clinical trials in response to every stage of the pandemic; from community-based projects to researching suitable treatments for acutely ill patients in ITU to establishing crucial vaccine clinical trials. These studies were set up at a faster pace than ever seen before, which may not have been possible without the leadership, hard work, extra hours, expertise, experience and absolute determination.

Innovation of the Year

Patient Medication Visualisation Project from Central Prescribing Team

A prototype visualisation of medication history for patients attend epilepsy and difficult asthma clinics. It allows clinicians in a hospital setting to see the medication that patients have been supplied with in the community as an objective measure of adherence based on national prescription data. Generally, patient self-reported adherence to medicine is inaccurate and healthcare professionals tend to overestimate patient’s adherence. Improving adherence contributes to better health outcomes, reduces health system costs and improves the lives of people with chronic diseases. The project also provides educational resources and advice on how to use motivational interviewing to facilitate effective communication about medication adherence.

Volunteer of the Year

With grateful thanks to every member of staff who volunteered to work additional hours, to work flexibly, to work at home, to work at a different base or to work in a different role

Pharmacy Services do not use volunteers, however the Director of Pharmacy and Pharmacy Services Partnership Forum wished to recognise the contribution of all staff during the pandemic. The goodwill and exemplary professional behaviour exhibited by all staff ensured care for patients was not interrupted and that staff supported each other during these very difficult months.

Team of the Year

Health Protection Nurses – Hilda Crookshanks, Kate Murphy, Kary O’Brien, Charmaine Pearson, Juliana Pereira, Caroline Scade, Jacqui Shookhye-Dickson and Joan Wilson

The HP Nurses have played a pivotal role working across health protection and the test and protect service throughout the pandemic. They have worked tirelessly providing expert advice to care homes, NHS colleagues, HSCPs and the public, to name but a few on all aspects of Covid – from managing clusters and outbreaks to contact tracing, vaccination and everything in between.

Employee of the Year

Janet Campbell – Bank Registered Nurse

Janet Campbell manages the NHS staff Covid testing service which has been running since the start of the pandemic. Her hard work, commitment and flexibility means that this testing service, based in the West ACH is available seven days a week.

Leader of the Year

Cath McFarlane – General Manager, Test and Protect

Employed 19 team leaders and two service managers, the majority of whom are from the private sector and helped create a vision and a goal of the Test and Protect service within GGC. In a short period of time created a service consisting of approximately 200 staff with a family feel – all of whom are on fixed term contracts and had them working to every NHS value. Has shown an open door policy and has been there for each tracer, team lead and service manager when they are at their lowest, even picking up the phone to contact trace herself.

Innovation of the Year

Test and Protect Staff Forum. Developed by Bryan Forbes, Yvonne McDowall, Wallace Gray, Adam Shearer, Martin Mcerlean, Jason McGinlay and Cath McFarlane

The weekly staff forum was created to provide stronger communication between contact tracing staff and the leadership team. It provides a ‘one stop shop’ to improve communication across the Test and Protect service as key information was scattered across separate team channels and chats and difficult to find. Missing these important pieces of information, e.g. changes in policies and procedures, could negatively impact on the outcome of a call to a patient. The forum empowers contact tracers to bring their ideas and vision to improve the service.

Volunteer of the Year

Staff who worked in the R&R Hubs – Jackie Sands, Jane E Grant, Lesley McBrien, Debbie Nelson, Barry Hope, Lisa Buck, Margaret Comrie, Mhairi Shepherd, Liz Donaghy, Fiona Mclean, Louise Logue, Agnes Rowland, Heather Hopkins and Martin Patterson

The R&R hubs provided a safe & secure non clinical environment for staff to rest & recuperate during the height of the pandemic. This service was open 24/7 for the first 6-7 months. The public health staff provided a listening ear and were able to signpost staff to support services as required or requested. They also provided staff with the opportunity to engage in activities that supported good mental & physical health. Relationships with staff were built on trust, confidentiality, friendship & respect & this resource was very well received.

Team of the Year

Renal Transplant Team

During recent uncertain and stressful times, Renal Transplant nurses were meticulous in their care of patients who were isolated from their families in hospital. The Renal Transplant Team went on to perform one hundred transplants between March 2020 and the start of December 2020, including twenty–five living donor transplants, with no cases of nosocomial coronavirus infection despite the highest prevalence of COVID-19 infection in Scotland in both the Glasgow community and the QEUH. These achievements all took place in the context of huge pressure on the team as a result of sickness absences, including cases of COVID-19 amongst unit nurses, COVID-19 related absence due to self-isolation and childcare.

Employee of the Year

John Martin – Haemodialysis Support Worker, Inverclyde Royal Infirmary

During the initial outbreak of Covid-19 John consistently worked above and beyond the remit of his role within the Dialysis Unit at Inverclyde Royal Infirmary. Throughout the outbreak he not only performed his role to the highest standard, but consistently provided a reliable and supportive influence towards his colleagues at a complex and challenging time.

Over and above this John supported patients out with the unit, including those who were either Covid-19 positive or who were shielding without any family support. In practice, this comprised grocery shopping, collecting prescriptions, assisting with documentation and any other requirement patients had including helping to look after one patient’s beloved dog.  

Leader of the Year

Judith Roulston – Team Leader, Critical Care Outreach and High Acuity Service, Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic and to allow more patients to remain on-site at Gartnavel General Hospital in the absence of on-site critical care, Judith quickly set up and established the Beatson High Acuity Unit (HAU) and Critical Care Service as a safe and effective service for unwell Haematology and Oncology patients being treated at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre.

The outcome of Judith’s outstanding leadership and the actions of her team resulted in providing a higher level of patient care at an unprecedented time of concern.

Innovation of the Year

Plastics Trauma See and Treat Service

In order to reduce their risk of coming into contact with patients with Covid-19 and to ensure that patients remained outside the main hospital building at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, a joint Trauma Assessment Service was set up in collaboration with Orthopaedics using an outpatient facility in the Gatehouse building. A joint trauma assessment service had been considered for a long time, however it took the emergence of COVID-19 for the Plastics Trauma See and Treat Service to be set up and become operational in a matter of days. This was down to outstanding leadership, collaboration and first class team-based working.

Team of the Year

Care at Home

Health and Social care should enable people to live the lives they choose in the best way possible.

Care at Home has represented HSCP’s vision in the most extraordinary way over the past 18 months, operating tirelessly to support vulnerable people against the uncertainty of a pandemic.

This team wouldn’t class themselves as special if you were to ask, they would simply just tell you that they are doing the job they love. That’s what makes them special.

Employee of the Year

Patrick Christie – Facilities Support Worker

Patrick or ‘Pat’ as he is well known is a ‘one-man team’. He does his job without any qualms and complaints. I have never seen him saying no to anyone, even if there is something that is beyond his role he would happily agree to find a solution. He treats professionals, patients, carers, and members of the public with the same regard and respect.

Everyone who enters Renfrew Health & Social Work Centre knows ‘friendly Pat’. He is a star who needs to be acknowledged for altruistic efforts!

Leader of the Year

Madeline Wilson – District Nursing Team Leader

Madeline has led the District Nursing team through one of the most challenging and demanding times within nursing. Over the past 11 months, Madeline has been the only Team Lead for all of the district nurses within Renfrewshire and she has demonstrated tenacity and resilience in the face of adversity.

Madeline is dedicated to the district nursing service and passionate about ensuring that nurses are supported to deliver person centered care.

She is the epitome of resilience and has the ability to manage challenging situations with care and compassion.

Innovation of the Year

Learning Disabilities Digital Transformation Project

In a year that has been challenging for everyone, Renfrewshire Learning Disabilities Service (RLDS) worked hard to find alternative ways to connect with individuals and provide support for those who access the service.

Staff tackled the challenges to make sure that our supported people had the opportunity to try new activities and stay connected in a meaningful way.

Which in turn, supported their parents and carers to have valuable respite from their caring responsibilities during this unprecedented time.

Volunteer of the Year

Jim and Anne Devlin

Both Jim and Anne deliver food from the foodbanks throughout Renfrewshire to households. Jim also picks up medication from Pharmacies.

They truly are selfless, caring, non-judgemental individuals with a strong sense of community who give so much of their time and energy.

There have been many times when they have put their own lives on hold to help those in need and this should be rewarded in some way.

At a time when others were staying at home, they were out in the communities helping those in need despite a global pandemic!

Chief Officer’s Award

Care Home Multi-Disciplinary Team

This group of people responded instantly and continued to input into a crisis situation within one of the Renfrewshire care homes, which unfortunately suffered a significant COVID-19 outbreak affecting almost 80% of its staff and over 90% of their residents.

This was very much a crisis situation with the home requiring immediate and sustained support to ensure that the residents whom many were symptomatically unwell due to COVID continued to receive the best care.

All worked to provide direct patient care and to support our care home colleagues which without the support of this group of staff the residents would have been all at risk.

Team of the Year (joint winners)

Specialist Eating Disorders

Connect ED is the specialist eating disorders team in CAMHS. The team support, deliver and evaluate evidence based treatment for young people suffering from eating disorders in GGC.

Throughout the pandemic the team worked tirelessly to find ways to provide treatment for families using digital resources, adapting well to this new way of working. The team continued to deliver evidence based treatments and developed groups aimed to support the increased number of referrals. Altogether it has shown that CAMHS works well together and pulls on all the skills and expertise within the team.

Tier 4 Admin Staff West Glasgow

Tier 4 admin hub were put together a number of years ago when staff from different teams across Specialist Children’s Services came together to form the Tier 4 Hub.

Over the last year the team demonstrated commitment to their roles. Staff are all very caring towards each other and will often check up on each other even after work if it is felt someone needs it. It feels a very safe place to work as staff trust each other.  

This team plays a vital role in supporting all the teams at tier 4 and have done so throughout Covid-19 – they have pulled out all the stops to support everyone and have looked after each other.

Employee of the Year

Jacqui Ely

Jacqui Ely joined the team at Skye House two years ago as a Ward Clerk Since that time Jacqui has excelled in what she does in the ward with both staff and patients. Jacqui is very creative and has transformed the ward with pictures and staff boards and has made the ward a much more welcoming place for young people and their visitors. We have had very positive feedback from patients and their families about how welcoming Jacqui makes them feel when they come to the ward and ensures they have what they need and is a friendly and extremely helpful person for those who come to the ward in an often distressed and emotional state. 

Innovation of the Year

Acute Paediatric Psychology Team

Paediatric Psychology delivers psychological assessment and therapies to children, young people and families under the care of the RHC experiencing psychological/mental health difficulties as a result of their medical condition or treatment.

With the onset of COVID-19, the Paediatric Psychology team recognising the considerable psychological strain the COVID pandemic placed on staff across the whole hospital, the team gained support from SCS management to divert some of their time to staff support. Staff were supported to manage the stress and distress of their jobs and many fed back that the tea break talks had been invaluable in enabling them to continue delivering high quality care to their patients.

Team of the Year (joint winners)

West Dunbartonshire Residential Care Team for Older People

Care Homes faced immense pressure during the pandemic, always striving to strike the right balance of keeping people safe while supporting them to live fulfilling lives through person centred care. In response, the teams rapidly adapted their practices, working tirelessly to accommodate new guidelines and policies in a constantly evolving situation. Together they learned, shared and supported each other through a range of emotions – sadness, loss, anxiety and fear of the unknown – but at all times their primary focus was keeping safe the vulnerable residents in their care.

They embraced technology as a way to stimulate and promote the wellbeing of residents, creating a Facebook page, WhatsApp groups, composing newsletters and using Zoom to ensure regular contact with families.

West Dunbartonshire Care at Home Team (including Home Care, Sheltered Housing & Community Alarms)

Care at Home services are integral to the HSCP’s commitment to support people to live well independently in their communities for as long as possible. So when the COVID-19 pandemic took hold the Team’s biggest concern was the equally virulent spread of another scourge for their shielding clients – loneliness.

Cut off from trusted carers and neighbours, their isolation inevitably took its toll on their mental health. But thankfully, they would soon find that they are not alone.

The response from the Home Care, Sheltered Housing and Community Alarm teams was a collaborative approach, working with partner agencies and family members to ensure that services could be targeted to those most in need.

Employee of the Year

Denise Ferguson – Primary Care Pharmacy Technician

Resilience and resourcefulness, care and compassion. Such qualities were needed more than ever during this turbulent Covid era and Denise Ferguson displayed them all with unstinting commitment to supporting her patients and colleagues alike.

Her quick response in the early stages of lockdown ensured that local teams had the resources required to work remotely and maintain strong communication links with GP Practices.

In addition to her role as a Care at Home Pharmacy Technician, Denise played an integral part in setting up and running three Covid vaccination clinics in West Dunbartonshire, ensuring that the “cold chain” protocols for the vaccines were maintained.

Leader of the Year

Heather Caughey – MSK Physiotherapy Team Leader

It’s during tough times when great leaders are defined and Heather Caughey undoubtedly rose to the challenges posed to her MSK Physiotherapy service during the pandemic.

Accepting overall responsibility for establishing a functioning face-to-face MSK service at the Louisa Jordan Hospital, she identified, co-ordinated and monitored all of the practical arrangements. This included selecting and moving staff, equipment, clinical notes and students to the newly set up facility.

She also co-ordinated the de-commissioning of the service in a very short time frame when the Hospital closed.

Without exception, those redeployed to work under her leadership in the Louisa Jordan found it a rewarding and enjoyable experience.

Innovation of the Year

Digital Developments within MSK Physiotherapy

For a service that epitomises hands-on care, the sudden onset of social distancing restrictions posed huge challenges for the MSK Physiotherapy Team.

A positive “can do” attitude and willingness to learn new skills was at the heart of the team’s swift and innovative response, embracing technology to create new opportunities to deliver modern quality care.

Digital capabilities were developed, not only for patient consultations but also a wide range of activities including the creation of a Covid Clinical Pathway to share knowledge and wellbeing resources.

These “best practice” elements now feature as part of a comprehensive digital strategy employed across the wider NHS community.

Team of the Year (joint winners)

RAH CMU Team

Throughout the past 18 months the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) Community Midwifery Unit have worked exceptionally hard to provide excellent care to mums, babies and new families during the pandemic. Adapting to closures of their department and supporting other departments not only within the RAH maternity unit but the other maternity sites across NHSGGC as well. The team acted and adapted quickly to working in unfamiliar areas, to new pathways and processes and making full use of new technology via video/telephone appointments which allow them to keep in contact with their patients and families.

Acute Paediatric Physiotherapy Service

The Acute Paediatric Physiotherapy service within the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) responded with initiative, efficiency and professionalism as the Covid-19 pandemic unfolded. They quickly shifted working practice for outpatient services to virtual and telephone using near-me, supported MDT clinics using near-me, liaised with and supported adult colleagues, set up training for all Paediatric staff on proning, manual handling and adult respiratory skills, and ran practical sessions on donning and doffing PPE to other AHP colleagues within RHC.

The team also prepared and delivered online training for colleagues across Scotland and the RHC has been recognised as one of the leading sites in virtual student placements and the benefits of peer supported learning throughout the Physiotherapy profession.

Employee of the Year

Debbie Harrison – Senior Staff Nurse in Paediatric Haematology

Debbie Harrison is in the team looking after children with malignant haematological and oncological diseases and children undergoing the Stem cell transplant process.

As a caring and compassionate nurse who works hard to ensure that children with leukaemia receive the best care possible, Debbie has maintained a positive outlook and supported and encouraged others despite the department going through touch changes and challenges over the last 4-5 years. Debbie has faced challenges from the children’s hospital to the adult hospital, staffing shortages and the added burden of caring for very immune compromised patients through the pandemic with a smile and always has an encouraging word for others.

Claire Rowan – Practice Development Midwife

Claire Rowan is a Practice Development Midwife who created and rolled out an induction programme for Newly Qualified Midwifes (NQMs) that was adapted specifically for COVID restrictions, and managed to deliver the whole programme despite COVID and all of the restrictions and pressures that came along with it. Moving the programme from what was initially face-to-face education in the QEUH Teaching and Learning Centre, to a hybrid of small learning groups and flexible e-learning in 2020 and 2021.

Instead of attending 75 hours of lectures, NQMs now attend 24 hours of interactive education, and complete a comprehensive e-learning list.

Leader of the Year

Jennifer Johansson – Charge Midwife Princess Royal Maternity Unit

Through the COVID pandemic Jennifer Johansson took notice that midwives were experiencing change at a significant pace and facing incredible challenges both within and outwith their working environment, and decided to do something about it. Jennifer commenced a project in October 2020 to enable the senior labour ward staff to facilitate time for staff to concentrate on their wellbeing and wellness at work. The aim was that a minimum of 50% of midwives on shift would receive a 10 minute wellness break in a designated wellness room in the labour ward. The outcome was achieved with well over 50% of staff benefiting from a wellness break and excellent feedback from staff using the facility.

Innovation of the Year

QEUH Ward 48 Antenatal Ward

A new patient centred ‘Outpatient Induction of Labour’ service was introduced during the pandemic, with the aim to reduce hospital admissions, reduce the caesarean section and assisted birth rate and provide women with an innovative safe method of inducing labour and then safely go home to be with their families and return the next day.

This was a very challenging service to set up initially but with head-strong determination and unbelievable team work and motivation the QEUH Ward 48 team are now seeing the results. The process has had a 96% success rate and women are able to transfer to labour wards to have their waters broken without the requirement for an inpatient stay, without requiring drugs and with minimal discomfort.

Volunteer of the Year

Michelle McMillan – Medical Secretary, Renal Department

Michelle was approached at the beginning of the Pandemic with a request to set up a robust admin system to book in Covid vaccine appointments for Medical, Nursing and Clinical Staff members in the Women’s and Children’s (W&Cs) Directorate. Michelle embraced this request, learning the new technology and setting up a Microsoft TEAMs page with an excel file recording all staff bookings. She worked from home outwith her normal working hours, at weekends and late into the evenings to book in staff to the appointments as they became available as well as phoning staff members advising them of their appointments whilst answering any queries they had. 

Rights of the Child Award

Morag Wilson and the RHC App Development Team

Paediatric Consultant Dr Morag Wilson along with Coral Brady, Seona Hamilton, Melville Dixon, Graham Bell and Geetika Kumar at the Royal Hospital for Children have worked to develop an app for parents and carers that provides a wealth of information for children’s health.

The app and accompanying webpage not only give advice about how to access care for different situations, but also what to expect when visiting the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) and information on common childhood issues such as earache, fevers and temperatures and coughs and colds.

The app was developed with parents, carers and children in mind, understanding that it can be very stressful when a child is unwell.

Directors Award

Conor Doherty – Consultant in Paediatric Infectious Diseases

Conor Doherty has been awarded the ‘Directors Award’ in the Women and Children’s Directorate in recognition of his exemplary performance and behaviours, playing a pivotal part in meeting our goals, driving our positive culture and moving the Directorate forward safely through Covid.

Throughout the pandemic Conor has played the lead role in ensuring that the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) is in a strong position to deal with the pandemic whilst maintaining a safe clinical environment for the children, families and staff. Conor has taken on a key leadership role, keeping the whole clinical team informed of the most recent developments in epidemiology and national standards such as with PPE and infection control measures throughout.

The team, department, service or function that has been judged to have worked together as a team and made the most significant contribution to quality of care, population health and care, service delivery or staff wellbeing likely under significant pressure or difficult circumstances.

Any member of staff who has stood out as an exemplar of care giving, service delivery or who has made a major difference for colleagues around them or the delivery of a key objective for their department or wider NHSGGC/HSCP.

Any member of staff who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, positive values and behaviours and/or inspired others in a particularly challenging situation, or for the respect they get from others through the day to day difference they make for those around them as a leader.

Any member of staff can demonstrate leadership, not just those who formally manage people.

To recognise any individual, team or department responsible for developing and implementing an innovative service, method, technology or process that has made a significant difference to quality of care, wider population health or care, service delivery or to the wellbeing of our own staff or to the efficient use our resources.

To recognise an individual or team of individuals who have volunteered significant time and effort to the benefit of our patients, service users or staff and made selfless contribution perhaps under difficult personal circumstances.