Patient Experience and Public Involvement (PEPI) support NHSGGC to listen and understand what matters to people. This allows us to improve our services using your experiences of care. The team help staff and members of the public to listen and learn from each other.
PEPI support staff and services to engage with people on care and service delivery. They apply best practice when informing and involving patients, carers and the public.
The team also provide expertise and support around the organisation’s public engagement and consultation activities. This is in line with statutory duties and national guidance.
PEPI Team services and resources
Glasgow Neurosurgery is based at the Institute of Neurological Sciences and the Royal Hospital for Children, both on the campus of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow.
The department provides neurosurgical services to the west of Scotland, and has played an important role in the development of Neurosurgery and clinical neuroscience research, both in the UK and internationally, including the development of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS).
In collaboration with the University of Glasgow Neuro Society, the department also hosts visits and talks from the world’s leading neurosurgeons. Previous speakers include the Chiefs of Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge Neurosurgical departments.
The service accepts both emergency referrals and non-emergency elective referrals from the following West of Scotland Health Boards:
- NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
- NHS Lanarkshire
- NHS Ayrshire and Arran
- NHS Western Isles
- Parts of NHS Highland, including those located within Argyll and Bute HSCP
Services
Adult Neurosurgery
The adult Neurosurgery department houses a large number of both general and subspecialty-focused Consultant Neurosurgeons who work across a full range of areas including neuro-oncology, neuro-vascular, spinal and functional neurosurgery.
Paediatric Neurosurgery
The Paediatric Neurosurgery department deals with a wide range of problems affecting children, including developmental craniofacial and spinal problems, hydrocephalus and brain tumours of childhood.
Making an emergency referral to neurosurgery
Emergency referrals can be made to the neurosurgery department using the SCI Gateway Emergency Dialogue system. This system is in place across all Emergency Departments and Orthopaedic departments within NHSGGC.
If you are referring from out with NHSGGC, from one of the above areas, please contact the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) switchboard on 0141 201 1100.
Please note the following before making a referral:
- If you have a patient with a life or limb-threatening illness or any other emergencies, please ensure their referral is discussed with their responsible consultant prior to referral to the emergency neurosurgery on call service. It is imperative that senior (consultant level) clinical input is involved in decision making and a clear clinical question forms part of all referrals.
- If a scan report suggests discussion with the on call neurosurgery service, please ensure the clinical scenario and imaging findings are discussed with the patient’s responsible consultant prior to referral.
- If you require advice regarding complications post-operatively for a patient treated by this neurosurgery service, please follow the instructions above as an emergency referral.
Emergency referral of a patient with a spinal injury with neurological deficit
If you require advice regarding a patient with spinal injuries and neurological deficit, please contact the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit on call service, available via QEUH switchboard on 0141 201 1100. Please note, the National Spinal Injuries Unit is able to accept referrals from all NHS Scotland Boards. More information can be found at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Spinal Unit website.
Please note that all referrals are audited regularly and if deemed inappropriate, feedback for such referrals will be carried out through appropriate channels.
Making a non-emergency referral to neurosurgery
If you are a GP or Hospital Clinician who wishes to refer a non-emergency patient into the Neurosurgery service in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, this can be done electronically or as a paper letter referral.
If you need more information on an existing referral, if known, please document the neurosurgery consultant’s name to whom the initial referral was made. All follow-up discussions should be directed to that particular consultant’s team to expedite appropriate decision making and treatment plans, when possible.
For Neuro-oncology MDT queries, contact Deborah Houston, Neuro-oncology MDT Coordinator Deborah.Houston@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
For Pituitary MDT queries, contact endosouthmdt@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
For questions about imaging, please discuss with on-call Neuroradiology via QEUH switchboard on 0141 201 1100.
Referring to Neurosurgery: a Clinicians Guide
This section of the website is for clinicians and other health professionals. If you are a patient and think you require a referral to our neurosurgery service, please contact your GP to discuss your concerns.
If you are a GP or Hospital Clinician who wishes to refer a patient into the neurosurgery service in NHSGGC, this can be done via SCI Gateway. Access to SCI Gateway referrals to neurosurgery is available to A&Es in GGC, orthopaedics in GGC and GPs.
If you have a patient with a life or limb-threatening illness, please ensure their referral is discussed with their responsible consultant prior to referral to the emergency neurosurgery on call service. It is imperative that senior clinical input is involved in decision making and that a clear clinical question forms part of emergencies referrals.
For all patients with spinal injuries and neurological deficit please refer to The Spinal Injuries Unit on call via switchboard.
For patients in GGC with thoracolumbar fractures who are neurologically intact please refer to their local orthopaedic spine team.
If a scan report suggests discussion with the on call neurosurgery service, please ensure this is discussed with the patient’s responsible consultant prior to referral.
For queries about the Neuro-oncology MDT please contact Deborah Houston at Deborah.Houston@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
For queries about Pituitary MDT please contact PituitaryMDT@scottish.onmicrosoft.com
If you have read this advice and need to contact the emergency neurosurgery referral service, please do so via QEUH switch board on 0141 201 1100.
Please be aware we audit all of our referrals and inappropriate referrals will be escalated to our Management Department
Donor Human Milk – what is it?
Donor human milk (DHM) is donated by mothers who have extra milk to spare. Donors are screened, including blood tests, to make sure their milk is suitable. The milk is also tested for bacteria and heat treated. Like donating blood the milk is freely donated, and its use tracked and recorded.
In the UK, like many countries, DHM is available for some babies whose mothers may not have enough of their own breastmilk in the early days. Other feeds include infant formula which is usually made from cow’s milk but doesn’t have all of the benefits of human milk.
Donor Human Milk – Why donate it?
Local, national and global recommendations support the use of donor human milk, especially for babies who are born early, are very small or sick. Most of the babies getting donor human milk are being cared for in a neonatal unit. It is offered for the first few days but sometimes can be for longer. We also provide about 2 weeks of donor milk for mums at home who can’t breastfeed due to medical circumstances.
Donor human milk can also be used to support breastfeeding in the first day or two. Some babies may require a little extra milk while waiting for mums milk supply. You can read Eilidh’s story below.
Eilidh’s story: Donor Human Milk – supporting breastfeeding
New mum Eilidh leaned on the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Milk Bank to breastfeed her son.
“To put it simply, the milk bank and provision of donor milk is the reason I’ve been fortunate enough to breastfeed my son. He arrived at 37 weeks and had a short stay in the NICU, and donor milk allowed him to get a great start while we were separated in those early days.
“I had some challenges with breast feeding at the start – my milk took a while to come in, expressing wasn’t yielding the volumes he needed to gain weight and latching was hard, but the milk bank and provision of donor milk meant that, while all these issues were ironed out, he continued to get all the goodness he needed from donated breast milk. This set him up for when I was able to give him what he needed.
“We are so grateful to the women who donate their milk and allow this service to be available to those who need it,” said Eilidh.
Mothers are supported to collect their colostrum and to express frequently. This helps to establish their own milk supply. There is lots of information about expressing, breast feeding and early feeding challenges at RHC Neonatal Infant Feeding.
Donor human milk provides easily digested nutrition along with many anti-infective and other active components that help protect baby’s immature tummies and keep them healthy.
If you would like to donate, please go to the “How to become a donor” section below to access the screening form. You can also arrange a collection of milk from there.
How to become a Donor
Becoming a donor is an amazing step and could help many babies across Scotland. Your own baby is the priority, so we only take milk that is truly surplus to your baby’s needs. The age limit for donation is around two. We can also take stored milk that is less than 90 days old. You can find out about expressing your milk from the Parent Club.
Who can donate milk?
Although you are donating breast milk, it’s similar to becoming a blood donor and there are only a few things that would stop you donating. There is a screening process which includes questions about your medical history, lifestyle and diet.
You can donate milk if:
- you are breast feeding or expressing for your own baby
- you are and remain in good health
- you are able to commit to a period of donating
- you have milk stored appropriately and in acceptable containers
You cannot donate milk if:
- you smoke, vape or are using nicotine replacement therapy
- you take certain medications including antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications, certain pain killers and high blood pressure medication.
- Please contact the milk bank to discuss medications and herbal remedies you take regularly
You can donate if you have had a piercing, tattoo or blood transfusion but we can’t complete the blood tests until 4 months after this.
Click below for screening:
If you would like more information about donation or to get a paper copy of the screening form, please use the Contact Form and we will get back to as soon as we can.
To arrange milk collection click the Collection Form button.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to live near the milk bank?
No, we can collect donor milk from all over mainland Scotland.
Can I donate milk I have already stored in my freezer?
Yes but the milk must be pasteurised within 90 days so it’s important to let the milk bank know as soon as possible so that it can be transported within that time. If you are donating milk already in your freezer, remember to answer the health and lifestyle questions for that time.
Can you use the blood tests I had done antenatally?
No, unfortunately we can’t. We do some extra screening tests which are not covered by your antenatal blood tests.
What happens to the milk?
The milk is tested for unwanted bacteria. All breast milk has bacteria in it, and in normal circumstances these are acceptable and helpful. Because our milk is used to feed premature and sick babies we need to make sure no unwanted bacteria are present.
Once all the screening tests are concluded, the milk is re-labelled and distributed throughout Scotland.
Memory Milk Gift – donation after loss
We believe every family who lose a child before the age of two, should have the choice to donate breast milk in their memory and commemorated on our Memory Milk Tree at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
To find out more about Memory Milk Gift Initiative click the link below.
Donor Human Milk and Milk Kinship
This information is taken from British Islamic Medical Association leaflet on milk kinship. You can view it by clicking the button below.
You will be supported to express your own milk after birth. Sometimes your milk supply can be delayed, especially in the first few days. If this is the case, you may be offered the option to feed your baby with donor human milk (DHM).
The sharing of breastmilk for a baby in need is halal (permitted) and you can find more in the leaflet mentioned above. However, there is a difference of religious opinion on whether the use of donor breastmilk also creates a family bond/milk kinship relationship.
Donor milk can still be given where milk kinship is believed to be established. This is because donor milk can be traced for milk kinship and marriage reasons in the future. This is highlighted in this resolution:
The Islamic rulings (fatwas), including guidance from the UK, on donor milk can be found
here:
https://www.e-cfr.org/blog/2017/11/04/twelfth-ordinary-session-european-council-fatwaresearch/
https://www.academia.edu/24021307/Islam_and_Milk_Banks
https://www.muis.gov.sg/officeofthemufti/Fatwa/Milk-Bank—English
https://scholarlypublications.universiteitleiden.nl/access/item%3A2727947/download#:~:text
=When%20Muslims%20thought%20of%20establishing,impede%20marriage%20in%20Islami
c%20Law
https://www.academia.edu/24021993/Islam_and_the_use_of_donor_human_milk
In the future, if I need to trace my baby’s milk donors for
marriage reasons, how will I do that?
All donor milk given to your baby is traceable using the following details:
*The unique ID numbers of the donor milk fed to your baby – this will be a unique number
with or without letters
*The date it was given
*The name of the milk bank that provided the milk
*The date of baby’s admission and discharge from hospital
You may find it reassuring to also record the above tracking details of all donor milk your child is given, so that you have the details to use in the future if needed. The nursing team looking after your baby will be able to help you with this.
In Scotland, all donor milk bottles have 3 tear off barcode labels which contain the information about the milk your baby is receiving. These barcodes would allow us to check who the donor is. One of the tear offs could be kept by you to check for milk kinship in the future. All of these details will also be in your child’s medical records at the hospital that cared for your child. The milk bank keeps records of all donors indefinitely.
Whilst donor breastmilk is not pooled (mixed) from different donors here in the UK, your baby may be given donor breastmilk from more than one donor. You will be able to check if a future spouse is a milk sibling through the process described above. For an illustrated flow chart, use the button to go to the BIMA website.
It is your choice as a parent, and your decision will be respected by your doctors and nurses. Donor breastmilk is offered because babies benefit from breastmilk as it is easily digested and contains immune boosting components that are only found in breastmilk.
Babies who are fed only breastmilk have been shown to have increased protection from developing infections and serious gut complications.
We know it can be hard to make a decision at such a difficult time, but please know that you are not alone. Your doctors and nurses will support you in your decision making and help with all your feeding questions.
What to expect at your first appointment
New patient information
In the first instance your call will be assessed by the referral management centre. If an appointment is required a telephone consultation appointment will be arranged for you.
Infected toe nail surgery cases and wound/ulcers are exceptions to this and will require you to attend a face to face consultation or have a virtual (telephone/video) consultation.
New patient telephone appointment
You will be given a day and time for the podiatrist to phone you. Please ensure you have provided us with the correct contact number when making this appointment. If further treatment is required a virtual consultation may be offered.
Virtual (Near Me) consultations
You will be allocated an appointment time to log into our virtual waiting room. Instructions and guidance will be provided for accessing these clinics. If further treatment is required a face to face consultation may be offered. Learn more about our virtual clinics here.
Face to face appointment
If you are asked to attend the clinic for an appointment please read the following guidance to help keep you safe:
- Wear a face covering within the building
- Use hand sanitiser when entering and leaving clinical areas and after touching furniture or equipment
- Maintain the recommended physical distance wherever possible
- Attend for appointments at your appointment time. Please do not attend early for these as physical distancing must be maintained within waiting areas
- You should attend your appointment alone unless you require assistance. This will allow physical distancing to be maintained within our waiting areas and clinical rooms
- You should only attend our department if you have an appointment. We will not be able to accommodate seeing anyone out with allotted clinical times and cannot appoint people who attend the department for booking appointments
- It is essential that you do not attend if you have a persistent cough, fever, or loss of taste or smell. In this instance you should contact us to reschedule your appointment.
If you are an existing patient
Return appointments
These are gradually being reintroduced on a phased return basis dependent on your previously assessed need (see figure 1 above). You will receive a phone call offering you an appointment. These may take a different format from what you have previously been used to. Appointments may be phone calls, virtual (Near Me) consultations or face to face. You will be advised by our call centre as to your appointment type.
Telephone appointment
You will be given a day and time for the podiatrist to phone you. Please make sure you
have provided us with the correct contact number when making this appointment
Virtual (Near Me) consultations
You will be allocated an appointment time to log into our virtual waiting room. Instructions and guidance will be provided for accessing these clinics.
Face to face
When attending
- Wear a face covering within the building
- Use hand sanitiser when entering and leaving clinical areas and after touching furniture or equipment
- Maintain the recommended physical distance wherever possible
- Attend for appointments at your appointment time. Please do not attend early for these as physical distancing must be maintained within waiting areas
- You should attend your appointment alone unless you require assistance. This will allow physical distancing to be maintained within our waiting areas and clinical rooms
- You should only attend our departments if you have an appointment. We will not be able to accommodate seeing anyone out with allotted clinical times and cannot appoint people who attend the department for booking appointments
- It is essential that you do not attend if you have a persistent cough, fever, or loss of taste or smell. In this instance you should contact us to reschedule your appointment.
As well as the Insertion & Maintenance of Adult Indwelling Urethral Urinary Catheters SOP, see NHSGGC Vascular Access Devices Guidelines for information on PVC / CVC.
Approximately 30% of our Adult Acute Hospital in-patients will have a Peripheral Venous Catheter (PVC) in place during their stay and in order to minimise the risk of bloodstream infections (bacteraemia) it is important that clinical staff are aware of the salient education points:
Peripheral Venous Catheter (PVC) in adult in-patients:
Skin is cleansed with an antiseptic containing Chlorhexidine 2% in 70% Isopropyl alcohol and left to dry before PVC insertion.
Access should be via the needlefree connector not the port at the top of the device. Before accessing this you should “scrub the hub” for at least 15 seconds with Chlorhexidine 2% in 70% Isopropyl alcohol wipe.
A single or multi-lumen needlefree connector must be primed with 0.9% normal saline before attaching to PVC.
A PVC care plan should be commenced as soon as possible after PVC insertion and the PVC must be checked at least once per day. The care plan must be fully completed to ensure optimal practice to avoid patient harm.
PVC/CVC
Vascular Access Devices (VADs)
Urethral Urinary Catheter Care Hub
The UUC Hub is where you will find all of our information and resources concerning Urethral Urinary Catheters.
Many of our patients will require an indwelling urinary catheter to be inserted during their stay in hospital. It is important that staff involved in the insertion and maintenance of these devices have access to training and guidance to ensure the comfort and safety of their patient.
The Infection Prevention and Control Team (IPCT) are working in conjunction with Practice Development to ensure that staff are supported and have the knowledge and skills to care for a patient with a urethral urinary catheter.
NHSGGC Documents
Links to urinary catheter guidelines can be found at:
UUC guidance for Acute in-patients is under development.
Catheter Passport
The National Catheter Passport (NCP) is an information resource given to patients and was created to improve both care and communication around urinary catheters.
National Catheter Passport (NCP)
Guidance for the use of the National Catheter Passport
Staff can order the National Catheter Passport via PECOS (SKU code 223848) whenever they order their supply of catheters and should be used once the decision has been made for the catheter to remain in situ – this may be on discharge from hospital or whilst at home.
Education
Staff caring for a patient who requires an indwelling urethral urinary catheter should complete the NES module entitled ‘Urinary catheterisation’. Staff should log in to LearnPro NHS and add the NES Urinary catheterisation to their programme.
HEI
The Healthcare environment inspection team may visit your ward to inspect the care and maintenance of these devices. Published on the HEI website are the methodology and inspection aide memoir. We recommend that staff familiarise themselves with these two documents.
NHSGGC Infection Prevention and Control Team
The IPCT have developed a tool to measure compliance with the urethral urinary catheter care plan. This tool can be used by staff to measure their own ward compliance.
Recommended Links
