The NHSGGC Biorepository is an invaluable resource for clinical research, providing access to a wide range of human tissue samples including surplus materials from diagnostic and surgical procedures. We can also provide access, with appropriate governance in place, to pathology archive specimens.
Through close collaboration with all clinical departments we source fully-consented surplus tissue and other materials in order to fulfil the need for these in studies requiring human tissue.
Each anonymised sample is associated with a limited set of clinical and demographic data held by the Biorepository. If necessary the scope of these data can be expanded upon through our close collaboration with the NHSGGC Safe Haven.
The Biorepository is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to ISO 20387:2018 standards. The scope of accredited services are listed within our UKAS schedule of accreditation.
As part of the NRS Biorepository network we provide streamlined access to anonymised samples and associated data Scotland-wide.
For Researchers
The NHSGGC Biorepository, as part of the NRS Biorepository Network, aims to provide researchers with efficient access to a wide range of high-quality and well-characterised tissue for use in research. You can download our latest user manual here (pdf).
We are independently accredited to oversee governance on collection, storage and release of biological materials obtained from informed, consenting patients for use in medical research.
A streamlined pathway supports researchers in obtaining tissue samples and discussing the design and costing of projects across a range of clinical specialties:
Autoimmune & Inflammation
Hepatology
Oral & Dental
Cancer
Mental Health Studies
Orthopaedics
Cardiovascular
Metabolic & Endocrine
Paediatrics
Dermatology
Microbiology
Regenerative Medicine
Diabetes
Musculoskeletal
Renal
Gastroenterology
Neurology
Reproductive Health
Haematology
Opthalmology
Respiratory
It is important that you contact us as soon as possible at the start of your research discussions to ensure that we can assist you with your requirements and deliver on time for your needs.
Click here to access the application website or find our contact information below.
Complaints Procedure
We endeavour to provide a good service. Our complaints policy and procedure reflects NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s commitment to welcoming all forms of feedback, including complaints, and using them to improve services, to address complaints in a person-centred way and to respect the rights of patients, families and staff involved. It will support our staff to resolve complaints and to conduct thorough and fair investigations so that we can make compassionate, yet evidence-based decisions, on the facts of the case.
Should you have any comments, suggestions, cause for concern or complaints about the service you receive from the Biorepository, please contact the Biorepository Manager.
For Patients
Why do researchers need access to my surplus tissue?
First, it is important for you to know that when we talk about surplus tissue we mean anything that is left over from your routine medical care – no extra procedures are ever involved in obtaining ‘surplus tissue’.
Doctors and scientists need human tissue for medical research. Research is any activity that aims to discover new facts about a disease. It includes things like looking down a microscope and analysing proteins, DNA and other molecules in the tissue.
The tissue you donate may be used in all these aspects of research. In addition your tissue may be used in research with animals to model disease processes and in the creation of cell lines where your cells could be grown and cared for in a laboratory for multiple experiments possibly over months and years.
If samples are collected at different stages of a disease, it helps to understand how a disease or problem starts or develops. Researchers can try out different drugs and tests on the tissue. They may find new medicines or treatments. They may also find new ways of diagnosing a disease earlier.
It is important to highlight to you that any research that uses this tissue will conform to strict UK guidelines and regulations.
How can I get involved in research/clinical trials?
The research on your tissue will normally have nothing to do with your own care or treatment. However, if any information might be of use in your current care or treatment, the doctors looking after you may discuss with you how it could be used to guide your treatment. This may include inviting you to join a medical research trial of new treatments. You would be provided with full information of any new treatments and free to decide whether or not to take part.
How does the Biorepository get consent to use my tissue?
When you come into hospital or attend a clinic you will be asked if you agree to let your surplus tissue to be used for medical research. Your wishes will be recorded electronically. In some cases, this may involve surplus tissue taken earlier in your care.
Can I change my mind?
You can change your mind at any time. You don’t need to give a reason. However, if you change your mind after your operation, some of your tissue may already have been used for research.
How do I find more?
If you need more information you can ask your doctor or nurse, or find our contact information below.
Complaints Procedure
We endeavour to provide a good service. Our complaints policy and procedure reflects NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s commitment to welcoming all forms of feedback, including complaints, and using them to improve services, to address complaints in a person-centred way and to respect the rights of patients, families and staff involved. It will support our staff to resolve complaints and to conduct thorough and fair investigations so that we can make compassionate, yet evidence-based decisions, on the facts of the case.
Should you have any comments, suggestions, cause for concern or complaints about the service you receive from the Biorepository, please contact the Biorepository Manager.
We have launched a new initiative for all of our District Nursing staff to React to RED. What this means is that if you see any of the following, you should report this immediately to your Nurse Team Leader (NTL):
Grade 1 Pressure Damage
Red / Discoloured skin (especially around boney prominences)
Moisture Damage (or concerns)
Any patients with vulnerable areas of skin you feel are of concern
What your NTL will then do is have a discussion with the DN Caseload holder, and take a look at current care plans and actions, and make suggestions on additional measures that should be put in place or considered.
The aim is to have a Multidisciplinary approach to patient care, reduce any unintentional patient harm, distress or stress.
Remember – preventing pressure ulcers is everyone’s business Let’s all work together to improve patient care!
Preventing and Managing Skin Damage Cause by Pressure and Moisture
New Presentations now available to our Pressure Ulcer Prevention awareness session
Important assessment information for first visits to a Community Patient
At first you must do the following:
SKIN CHECK – At first visit patients skin must be observed and assessment documented in notes.
Assessment – Nursing assessment to be completed including condition of skin and level of risk and Pain.
Waterlow– Must be completed on first visit and again as patient condition changes
SSKINS– To be commenced if Waterlow is 10 or above (Good Practice can be to do SSKINS for all patients with exception on once only visits.)You will need to be explicit in your skin checking instructions i.e. document who will be observing the skin and how often. Examples – the nurse will check at each visit, or weekly, or carers will check daily and report to DN.
Skin Care plan – commenced if nursing need identified. Clearly document planned wound care including frequency of planned visits. Patient Pressure Ulcer prevention leaflet –Verbal instructions as well as written instructions to be provided to patients at risk. This must be documented on the SSKINS (Good prevention to provide all patients with leaflet.)
Please access the Annual competency tool here. This tool must be completed with support form your line manager. Once completed supplied copy to your Nurse Team Leader as this must be retained. This should be completed every year to maintain your competency in Pressure ulcer Prevention
The Medical Education Team is dedicated to supporting doctors in training to stay happy and healthy at work and at home. Within this section of the website you will find information relating to different services, clubs and external organisations that operate in and around our NHSGGC Hospital sites.
Concerns & Feedback
If you have a concern about Patient Safety:
Discuss immediately with supervising consultant
Datix
Discuss with educational supervisor
Discuss with clinical director/line manager
If you have health or personal circumstances which you feel affect your ability to perform your job and there is a potential effect on either your personal safety or patient safety then you must discuss this with your clinical or educational supervisor immediately or if they are not available another consultant within the unit. The Clinical Director responsible for the department will be informed as part of this process.
If you have concerns about your training:
Discuss with your clinical supervisor
Make an appointment to discuss with your educational supervisor
Make an appointment to meet with Foundation Programme Director or Training Programme Director
Discuss with your sector ADME (see the meet the team (link) page for details)
Space for staff to relax and recuperate away from their clinical work environments. The hubs are designed to offer Café space for eating & drinking and quiet space for reflection/relaxation. They are accessible 24/7 and are open to all members of staff.
Acute Psychology Staff Support Service (APSSS)
Designed for hospital-based staff wishing to access psychological first aid as a result of their challenging work circumstances. Offering 30 minutes individual sessions that can be arranged using ‘Attend Anywhere’ technology via the COVID-19 Acute Care Line. The service also offers group/team wellbeing & resilience sessions that can be booked via application form with General Manager support 0141 277 7623 Weekdays: Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
COVID-19 Staff Support Line
Confidential Support line staffed by clinical psychologists and psychological therapists available for all staff The service offers emotional and psychological support developed to respond to the emotional needs that staff may have at this time. 0141 303 8968Weekdays: Monday – Friday, 8am-6pm www.nhsggc.org.uk/covid19/staffsupport
Occupational Health Counselling Services
Listening ear service – Providing support for staff that have queries about their physical and mental health in relation to their fitness to work 0141 201 0600Weekdays: Monday – Friday, 8am – 6pm
Spiritual Care Service
Chaplaincy service now offer a 7 day telephone service for patients, relatives and staff 0141 887 9111Weekdays: Monday – Friday, 9am – 10pm Most Chapels and Sanctuaries will remain open as normal and these spaces are available for everyone to use. Staff Listening Service is open to all staff and offer person centred, confidential, non-discriminatory sessions with a trained listener 0141 201 1100Weekdays & Weekends 9am – 10pm
Existing MBSR services are now available online, drop-in sessions are delivered by experienced mindfulness tutors using the Mindfulness Scotland Zoom account
The Scottish Cytology Training School (SCTS) is a National Health Service Cervical Screening Programme (NHSCSP) Accredited Training Centre. The SCTS provides training and continuing professional development (CPD) for relevant professional staff in cervical cytology screening and associated work areas as part of the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme.
Scottish Cytology Training School Course Information
Trainee Biomedical Scientist – ‘A’ levels or equivalent to allow entry to a Health Profession Council (HPC) approved degree course or a recognised HPC/Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) approved degree.
Eligibility – All students must be employed in an NHSCSP Cytopathology department, as a trainee to undertake this course as part of the 2 year UK registration training.
Length of time in post: Learners should attend the introductory course ideally within the first 6 months of employment. Learners should spend a minimum of 6 weeks in the home laboratory learning how to set up as well as use a light microscope to visualise cells for interpretation and be familiar with normal cell morphology and basic infections.
NHSCSP – Registration: Prior to starting the introductory course pre-registration students must be registered by their employers with the NHSCSP Education office. The laboratory training officer (assessor) must also be registered prior to learners commencing their portfolio. This course is the first part of an intensive two year training plan for registration in Cytology which includes written portfolio work, slide logbook and attendance at compulsory courses at the training centre with a final one day external examination.
Follow –up Course in Gynaecological Cytology [NHSCSP Diploma] – (Thinprep®)
Course for candidates who have previously attended the NHSCSP Introductory Course in Gynaecological Cytology. This normally takes place between 6 to 12 months after the Introductory Course.
The introductory and follow up courses are supported by a pre-examination course. This normally takes places between 3 months and 3 weeks before the examination.
Biomedical Scientist (BMS)/Cytoscreener One Day Update Course
Update course to refresh qualified screeners knowledge and inform them about developments in Cervical Cytology and the NHSCSP.
This section helps you get started, be more efficient with your computer or laptop, connect with patients, and use electronic patient records
Getting started
If you are new to using digital in NHSGGC you will find lots of useful information in the GGC eHealth sharepoint site
Whilst you will be trained on specific applications, consider a basic IT session to learn skills that span across applications such as file management, keyboard and mouse skills, and functions of Microsoft Windows.
NHS Scotland uses Microsoft 365 (M365) which allows access to many useful apps. Training and information is available on the M365 Skills Hub.
In particular, familiarise yourself with features of Outlook and Teams as the apps for communicating and collaborating.
You can even set up your Teams profile with a photo. It is a national resource with 1000s of users so it can help identify yourself and others more quickly. Follow the steps on how to do this.
Consider familiarising yourself with accessibility features for you and your colleagues.
Be sure to personalise your email and contact details in the global address list via eHelp ‘update contact details‘
Never share your logon details or passwords. Consider setting up Imprivata OneSign (Single Sign On) on your computer to help you to remember many of your passwords. It updates automatically each time you require to change a password.
Always lock your computer when you step away from it even in an office setting. UseWindows key + L to lock the screen quickly.
Problem solving digital issues
If an application is not working well, first consider if it is using an internet connection and if this connection is good. See Troubleshooting Network Problems. Most NHSGGC devices connect to ‘WPA2-MAIN’ in NHSGGC premises.
If it is a problem with logging into a system, search for the ‘Forgot your password?’ or similar function. Make sure your set-up any security questions for systems you use before you need to use them in anger!
Ask yourself what you expect the computer to be doing and what is now different?
Make use of help functions in most applications, often depicted by a ?.
Also consider functions and settings often are in the ‘cog’, ellipsis (…), or other menu symbols. Remember that every symbol in an application means something, so hover over it with the mouse cursor, click it or right-click it to see what it does.
Consider asking ‘super-users’ in your team for tips and help.
Use eHelp if the above hasn’t managed to solve your problem.
Discuss the digital skills needed for you job in supervision, 1:1s and PDP&R just like you would for your clinical skills.
Home and agile working
To work from home successfully you require a NHSGGC provided device (e.g. laptop) and a stable internet signal.
To use M365 products such as Outlook and Teams, simply connect to your home Wi-Fi.
To access clinical systems such as EMISWeb, Clinical Portal, TrakCare and Staffnet, you need to have a ‘secure’ connection. This could be achieved in several ways:
By mobile connection where your device has a SIM card like you would have in a mobile phone. This is configured with some special settings that make the connection ‘secure’. This is the preferred option if you need access to these systems in a wide range of lcoations particularly patients’ homes.
By connecting to your home Wi-Fi and then using a ‘remote connection’ tool such as F5. This can be requested through eHelp. This is the preferred option if you work from home for prolonged periods and tend to have numerous applications open at a time.
Electronic health and care records (EHCR)
There are 3 ‘cornerstone’ systems used in NHSGGC:
TrakCare used mainly in acute settings;
EMISWeb used mainly in community settings; and
Clinical Portal used across all settings including social care for viewing clinical information. Also used across a variety of settings for documenting information.
The diagram below illustrates the NHSGGC strategic plan of how they integrate:
Connecting with our patients remotely is easy with Near Me. Speak with you manager to see if it is available in your service.
A recent patient feedback survey showed over 90% of patients that had used the video call service would use it again if offered. It has many benefits both to the patient and the clinician.
The Telerehab Toolkit is an excellent resource to help you feel more confident with video calls as well as some other really useful info and links.
GP Registrar
GP Registrars are advised to apply to join the Performers List at least three months before they complete their training. Please contact the team for information on how to apply for inclusion in the Performers List. The Team can be contacted at : gp.pcs@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Fully Qualified GP
There are fourteen Health Boards in Scotland, and you should apply to the board, where you intend to undertake the majority of your work for appraisal/revalidation purposes.
Right to work check
You’ll need to prove your right to work in the UK to allow you to provide general medical services within Scotland.
The share code should be generated and sent along with your Performers List application.
Share Codes/ Sponsorship/Visas
Visa and immigration rules changed in 2022. In the past, workers on Tier 2 visas could work only for the sponsoring employer. Following the rule changes, skilled workers are now entitled to work either unlimited hours with their sponsoring employer, or to work up to 20 additional hours with another employer (or for the worker’s own business) as long as the worker is still being sponsored for the original job.
In addition to the sponsored job, a skilled worker GP could now work:
for another independent GP practice in the same Board area;
for a Board-run (2C) practice in the same Board area;
for a Board’s OOH service in the same area; or
for all of the variants above but in a different Board area, or perhaps in multiple Board areas.
The responsibility of any individual employer is only to monitor the hours done by the employee if they have employed the GP as a Partner or a Salaried and to report any breaches of the Regulations
The GP has personal obligations to ensure that they do not exceed the 20-hour limit.
Application for Inclusion on the Performer’s List
Please find below a sample application form. Please note that this sample application form cannot be used to apply and is for information only.
In order to work as a GP in Scotland, you will need to be a member of the Disclosure Scotland, PVG Scheme, and to work in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, you will need to be on the NHS Primary Medical Services Performer’s list for Glasgow and Clyde. To obtain a copy of the application pack, please contact the FHS Team at gp.pcs@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Response from NSS – Any GP, including Sessional GPs, are entitled to an NHSmail account. The issue is whether they should be attached to the practice they work in or not. I would suggest that if they are likely to work in a practice for 3 months or more they should be attached to the practice and if they move to another practice they are marked as a leaver from that practice and then added to the next by the practice admins. This would need to be done by your local administrator. If they are only working for a week here or there, they should float within the Board (not attached to anything except GGC Board).
To get an NHS Mail account a Sessional GP should phone DAISY, the IT Company NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde use to support their systems, on 0344 863 1244 and log a call. The operator will take the GP through a series of questions, including which Health Board they are hosted by, take contact details, and then the account will be set up.
If a GP has an NHS Mail account from working in a practice can they retain it if they leave the practice to work as a Sessional GP?
Yes – When the GP is working for a Practice they will be attached to that practice, if they move to another practice they will be marked as a leaver from that practice and then added to the next by the practice admins. This would need to be done by your local administrator. If they are only working for a week here or there, they should float within the Board (not attached to anything except GGC Board).
What are the implications for a person’s PVG Scheme membership if they move from working in a practice to working sessionally, or if they come from another part of the UK?
PVG application is carried out as part of a new GP’s induction process, along with Performers List application, when they wish to practice as a GP. It is a national scheme and covers them wherever they work in Scotland, and whether they work as a Principal in a practice or sessionally. If a GP comes from another part of the UK they will have to complete the Scottish PVG process even if they are members of the scheme elsewhere in the UK
How would Sessional GPs access BNF online?
The BNF can be accessed from the Medicines Complete website at British National Formulary (BNF) | Pharmaceutical Press in order to access the site you must be working in a GP Practice, a member of NHS Scotland staff, student on NHS placements, or partner in local authorities and the voluntary health sector.
How would Sessional GPs Access the NHSGGC formulary?
You can access the GGC Formulary through Staffnet. If you are working in a practice the permissions on the PC should be sufficient. There are also smartphone apps that can be downloaded, however you need a SharePoint account in order to open either the online formulary or the app: GGC Clinical Info – Home (sharepoint.com)
How would Sessional GPs Access the online BNF?
Go to https://bnf.nice.org.uk/ and you can access the BNF on your device, either desktop or mobile.
Please click on the links below to view the Medical (GP) Lists.
