Weight Management
- 25 May 2023 Glasgow and Clyde Weight Management Services
Quit Your Way stop smoking services offer free information, advice and support, including nicotine replacement therapy, to those who want to stop smoking.
To find out more about what our services can offer call the Quit Your Way service on 0800 916 8858 or Click to Quit: Find a Stop Smoking Service in your area via Scotland’s Service Directory on NHS Inform:
The Quit Your Way Community Service offers free stop-smoking support throughout Greater Glasgow & Clyde. Our team of trained advisors are friendly, knowledgeable and dedicated to supporting you through your quit journey.
The most effective way to quit smoking is with support and the use of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products; whether it is your first attempt or you have tried before, we are here to make your quitting journey as successful as possible.
To find out more about personalised appointments for face-to-face, telephone or online support, call our team on 0800 916 8858 to get started.
Please note that our Hospitals (including the grounds) are smoke-free sites.
Stopping smoking before a hospital procedure (such as an operation) greatly reduces the risks of complications and aids recovery. If you would like to stop smoking ahead of a planned admission you can use the postcode search on Scotland’s Service Directory to find our local stop smoking services near you.
If you are unexpectedly admitted to hospital, we understand that many people who smoke may feel uncomfortable in a non-smoking environment. If you smoke, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products are available to keep you comfortable from withdrawal symptoms, please discuss this with ward staff.
You can also request a referral to the hospital stop smoking service upon arrival or at any point during your stay. An advisor from the stop smoking service will provide support and advice throughout your quit attempt and arrange NRT if needed. You will leave with a supply of products and information on continuing them through your local pharmacy.
You can contact the QYW hospital service by phoning 0141 451 6112 or by emailing Quityourway.hospitalservice @ggc.scot.nhs.uk
All community pharmacies in Greater Glasgow and Clyde offer free one-to-one support to help you to stop smoking. You can arrange to drop in on a day and a time that suits you.
The pharmacist will explain the medications available to help you quit smoking such as Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) patches or gum. They will advise on the pros and cons of each to help you decide which option is the best for you. The pharmacists can then arrange for you to get free NRT, if the products are suitable for you to use.
Protecting your baby from tobacco smoke is one of the best things you can do to give your child a healthy start in life. We have trained Advisors ready to support pregnant women and their families. We will provide specialist support and advice all the way through your smokefree journey. We will also arrange FREE Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) if required.
As part of our service, we are introducing a store gift card incentive programme worth up to £220 to eligible pregnant women who smoke tobacco and would like help to stop.
If you are pregnant and want to find out more about stopping smoking call us on 0141 201 2335 or text ‘quit’ to 07796 937 679 or email us on Quityourway.pregnancy@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
In November 2018, all prisons in Scotland became smoke-free environments with smoking and tobacco products not permitted by law. This was in response to local and national concerns about the air quality and exposure to second-hand smoke for people living and working in the prison environment.
There are two Quit Your Way services delivered in the prisons in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area. Symptomatic relief and smoking cessation support for smokers who meet a specific criteria when they are admitted into prison and behavioural support with Nicotine Replacement Therapy for people wishing to become nicotine free while in prison. Anyone can self-refer using the NHS Health Improvement self-referral form or by others involved in their care.
For further information contact Claire Murphy at: ggc.prisonhealthimprovement@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Studies show that quitting smoking improves mental and physical health. The Quit Your Way Mental Health Service offers free stop smoking services throughout Greater Glasgow & Clyde, providing support from our trained advisors. We offer advice and support to quit smoking and provide Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) to help manage withdrawal cravings whilst in our smoke free hospitals
NHSGGC Mental Health In-patient staff can find out more about our service by accessing a short QYWMHS video briefing below.
Patients are referred to the service by NHSGGC staff or can refer themselves, as can staff.
You can contact the Quit Your Way Mental Health Service by phoning 0141 211 6564 or emailing quityourway.mentalhealth@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Smoking causes nicotine addiction and people who start smoking at an early age find it more difficult to quit. Two-thirds of adult smokers in the UK say that they started smoking regularly before the age of 18, while two out of five say they started before the age of 16.
We provide a confidential and youth friendly service to young people who wish to stop smoking. This includes tailored support through telephone or virtual support sessions and access to nicotine replacement products.
We understand that getting to a healthier weight and sticking to it can be hard, but with our Community Weight Management Service it is easier, providing you with support from our team of experts. There are many physical and mental wellbeing benefits linked to a healthier weight and being more active. It can reduce your chances of many conditions, it helps you sleep better, decreases your stress levels and improves your energy and mood.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde provide a Community Weight Management Service in partnership with Weight Watchers and Slimming World to help you lose weight. If eligible for the service you’ll receive a free 12 week membership providing access to a blend of in-person and online support. You will be able to attend a weekly workshop for a check in with a coach who will support you on your weight loss journey. You will also get access to a timetable of virtual workshops, delivered online, by Coaches and a range of further support through the smartphone app.
If you regularly attend workshops and lose 5% of your body weight over the 12 weeks, you could be eligible for a further 12-week membership.
Use the tabs below to find out a bit more about the service and how you can be referred.
Members follow a programme combining healthy eating, physical activity and behaviour change techniques supporting them to lose weight and develop healthy habits.
Your Weight Management membership through NHSGGC provides you with:
In addition to these local and virtual workshops, you’ll be provided with 16 weeks access to the smartphone app which offers the following:
NHSGGC Weight Management Services support individuals with existing health conditions that could be improved by losing weight. If you have Diabetes, Heart Disease or have previously had a Stroke and are overweight then you can self-refer by the means below.
All referrals are received through a NHSGGC managed weight management admin hub where demographic information, medical history and additional needs are considered before identifying a weight management service destination (Slimming World or Weight Watchers).
To self-refer:
Call: 0141 211 3379 (Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:00 pm)
Email: WeightManagement.HealthRecords@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Or complete our online referral form.
Depending on your criteria (BMI; health conditions) you will be referred to the most appropriate service for you, either the Community or Specialist service. Use the online tool to calculate your body mass index (BMI).
If you are trying to lose weight but don’t meet the criteria for referral to our services, why not check out our Self Management resource and other services which could support you.
If you’re a health professional, you can refer your patients to Glasgow and Clyde Weight Management Services via SCI Gateway Please select send to ‘GGC Weight Management Service.’
Alternatively, acute referrals can be made via TrakCare. Follow the instructions for making a referral in TrakCare.
General enquires about the service should be made to by phone to: 0141 211 3379 or by email to: WeightManagement.HealthRecords@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Some inspirational stories from people who have participated in our weight management programme.
Whether you don’t meet the criteria for our Community or Specialist Weight Management Services, or are unsure about joining a service at this time, you’ll find information below on a range of local and national self-management resources which could support you on your weight loss journey. You’ll also find information on our physical activity referral scheme, Live Active.
If you want to lose weight, making small, realistic changes to your diet and level of physical exercise will help you kick-start your weight-loss journey. Our practical guide Eat Well, Feel Great, Lose Weight (pdf) will help get you started and build the foundations for a successful, effective weight loss that you can maintain over the long term.
NHS Inform have developed a free, online 12 Week Weight Management Programme. The step-by-step plan provides a wide range of materials, tips and links to support individuals on their weight loss journey.
Find out more and start the programme.
Physical activity can help support weight loss as well as boosting our energy and lifting our mood so whether you want to de-stress; lose weight quicker; tone up or achieve your fitness goals, our physical activity programmes can help. Find out more about our services including Live Active, Vitality and Health walks via our Get Active micro-site or by calling 0141 232 1860 (Monday – Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm)
The Get Active phone line will direct you to the kind of physical activity support you are looking for and to local authority area of your choice.
The NHSGGC briefing paper (pdf) provides specific information for midwives and children and families teams on advice for families. It complements The Scottish Government policy briefing paper.
The following resources are available to order from the Public Health Resource Directory :
Every community pharmacy will display a window sticker (PDF) visible outside and wobblers (PDF) in the vitamin sections to promote the scheme.
To order the vitamin D supplements for maternity wards please follow these Standard Operating Procedures. For more information on ordering please contact the Pharmacy Health Improvement Team at pharmacyhit@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
For any queries on:
Please contact the Pharmacy Health Improvement Team at pharmacyhit@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Yes, is suitable for those following a vegan, vegetarian, halal or kosher diet.
Yes. All ingredients are plant based and are suitable for those following a vegan, vegetarian, halal or kosher diet. The product also contains no added sugars and artificial flavours.
From production, the vitamins have a 2 year best before date. Use vitamins within 4 months once opened.
From production, the vitamins have a 2 year best before date.
This Product Is Free from Sugars, Gluten, Yeast, Artificial flavours & colours, Lactose, Preservatives.
Aqua, Polyethylene glycol sorbitan monooleate, Cholecalciferol from Lichen (Cladonia rangiferina), Glycerine, Xanthan gum, Trisodium citrate.
1 tablet contains 10 micrograms of Vitamin D3.
Emulsifiers: microcrystalline cellulose, anti-caking agent: magnesium stearate, Cholecalciferol from Lichen (Cladonia rangiferina). This product is free from Sugars, Gluten, Artificial flavours, Nut, Wheat, Gelatine, Egg
Healthy Start vitamins is given to those who are pregnant at antenatal appointments for the duration of pregnancy. The vitamins contain the right amount of vitamin D (10 micrograms) along with folic acid and vitamin C. Therefore, you do not need to take the vitamin D supplement and should not take both the vitamin D and Healthy Start vitamins at the same time.
All children aged 1 to 4 years old take a vitamin D supplement every day. This Scottish Government scheme allows free vitamin D for all children under 3 year olds. Although you will not be able to get vitamin D for free, you will be able to buy it at your local pharmacy and most supermarkets. Look for a supplement containing 10 micrograms vitamin D that are sugar free.
Both breast fed and formula fed babies need vitamin D. This is because we get most vitamin D from sunlight and in Scotland we are unlikely to get enough.
Vitamin D supplements is not required because infant formula is strictly regulated in the UK and must contain vitamin D.
Breastfed babies are recommended to take vitamin D from birth as a precaution to ensure they get enough. Breast milk gives babies the best start in life providing long lasting health benefits for mother and baby.
Mixed-fed babies should be given a vitamin D supplement if they are having less than 500 ml (around 1 pint) infant formula. You will be able to collect them free from your local community pharmacy. A vitamin D supplement is not needed if they are having more than 500 ml infant formula every day.
Anyone who is experiencing difficulties with breastfeeding or feeding their baby should make contact with their midwife, Health Visitor or Family Nurse.
Parent Club has useful information on feeding your baby:
Glasgow Breastfeeding Buddies and The Breastfeeding Network offer a range of support groups which are open to any mum in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
For more information about Infant feeding support in NHS GGC please see Finding breastfeeding support | Parent Club and the interactive map here: Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland – Google My Maps
The National Breastfeeding Helpline – Helpline offers both telephone and web chat services Tel 0300 100 0212 open 24 hours per day.
You can access the same support in Polish or Welsh via the same number – 0300 100 0212 – press 1 for support in Welsh or 2 for support in Polish. Call 0300 456 2421 for support in Bengali and Sylheti.
It also offers support in British Sign Language. Users in Scotland can contact the helpline via contact SCOTLAND-BSL.
You can access the same support in Polish or Welsh via the same number – 0300 100 0212 – press 1 for support in Welsh or 2 for support in Polish. Call 0300 456 2421 for support in Bengali and Sylheti.
Feeding when out and about and going back to work. Please see information Getting out and about while breastfeeding | Parent Club and Breastfeeding and returning to work | Parent Club. There is also a helpful leaflet below with more tips and information.
NHSGGC hosts the National Milk Bank for Scotland. For more information or if you would be interested in become in breastmilk donor.
Breastfeeding In Neonatal Care: Your breastmilk is very important if your baby is born too soon, is very small or is sick. For more information on breastfeeding or providing breastmilk for your baby if born too soon visit: RHCG – Neonatal infant feeding.
The Parent Club website has lots of excellent information on a range of topics for families.
Global Health Media. Have a range of videos for Breastfeeding English Language Videos – Global Health Media Project. These can be watched in English and also selected to be watched in a range of other languages.
Ready Steady Baby Your guide to pregnancy, labour and birth and early parenthood up to 8 weeks.
Unicef have a range of useful resources for parents on infant feeding and relationship building, as well as information on overcoming common breastfeeding challenges. Printable resources in other languages are available.
First Steps Nutrition Trust is an independent public health nutrition charity that provides information and resources to support eating well from pre-conception to five years.
Starting Solids: NHSGGC has produced a range of helpful videos for when you are introducing solids foods to your baby at around 6 months Starting Solids – NHSGGC
Please see information about our Vitamin D scheme where there is free vitamin D supplements for those who are breastfeeding and children under 3 years in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Vitamin D – NHSGGC
Best Start Foods Benefit: Pregnant women and families who have children aged up to three years old on low income might be entitled to Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods – mygov.scot benefits. There are also a range of other benefits families may be able to access Children and family – mygov.scot.
Please speak to your Midwife, Health Visitor or Family Nurse if you are worried about money.
Starting solids means gradually introducing a variety of foods to your baby alongside breast milk or infant formula until they are eating the same healthy foods as the rest of the family. Sometimes this is called weaning, introducing solids or complementary feeding.
Our Starting Solids Show videos provide information for parents and carers. These videos include guidance from one of our Community Dietitians, Rachel, on everything you need to know about introducing solids to your baby and the new vitamin D product. There is lots of other important information about food for your baby from our community chef, Sandra and more from Fiona, one of our Health Improvement Practitioners, about your baby’s first teeth.
If your child’s first teeth have not come through yet, it is still important to start them on the path to good oral health. In her video, Fiona, one of our Health Improvement Practitioners gives some tips and advice on how to do this.
Starting Solids Show – First Teeth (Oral Health)
You can also find out more information including teething, caring for your baby’s first teeth and healthy snack ideas on the Childsmile website.
Our community chef, Sandra, gives lots of helpful information about introducing solids, whilst showing you how to make a range of quick, tasty and healthy meals for your baby and the rest of the family as well as additional money saving tips.
Starting solids means gradually introducing a variety of foods to your baby alongside breast milk or infant formula until they are eating the same healthy foods as the rest of the family. Sometimes this is called weaning, introducing solids or complementary feeding.
On this page you will find a range of key messages and lots of helpful resources including our new NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde ‘Starting Solids Show’ videos, designed to help you get started with introducing first foods to your baby. This information will support the Fun First Foods Booklet: An easy guide to introducing solid foods you will receive from your Health Visitor or Family Nurse.
In the first six months babies get all the fluid and nutrients they need from breastmilk or from infant formula. There is no need to introduce any other foods before this time.
Every baby is different but the evidence tells us that babies aged around 6 months old, who show signs of developmental readiness, are ready to begin having solid foods alongside breastmilk or infant formula. The signs of developmental readiness are described below, as per the Fun First Food booklet:
• They can stay in a sitting position, they can hold their head steady
• They can reach out and grab things accurately; for example, they may look at a toy, pick it up and bring it to their mouth by themselves
• If your baby is around six months of age and the signs above are there, you can try offering a spoonful of soft food to see how they cope. For more information, you can check out the Fun First Foods booklet
This is a series of four ‘Starting Solids Show’ videos by one of our Community Dietitians, Rachel. She covers everything you need to know about introducing solids to your baby as well as information on the new Vitamin D product now available.
Starting Solids Show – Getting Started (Part 1)
Starting Solids Show – Practical Tips (Part 2)
Starting Solids Show – All About Textures and Suitable Drinks for Your Baby (Part 3)
Starting Solids Show – More Healthy Meals & Snacks and a Note on Food Safety (Part 4
In these four videos, our community chef, Sandra, shows you how to easily prepare a range of tasty and healthy meals for your baby and the rest of the family. She also gives some information to help you on your starting solids journey and tips how to save money.
Starting Solids Show: Cookalong Videos – Creamy Lentil and Vegetable Curry
Starting Solids Show: Cookalong Videos – Simple Fish Pie (2 Variations)
Starting Solids Show: Cookalong Videos – Simple Tomato & Veg Sauce (& Quorn Variation)
Starting Solids Show: Cookalong Videos – Stewed Apple with Apricots
Our community chef, Sandra, shows you how to make quick, tasty and healthy meals for your baby which the rest of the family can enjoy too.
Starting Solids Show – Short Video Recipe – Deliciously Creamy Porridge with Prune
Starting Solids Show – Short Video Recipe – Cottage Pie with Mash
Starting Solids Show: Short Video Recipe – Deliciously Creamy Porridge with Blueberries
Starting Solids Show – Short Video Recipe – Simply Mashed Banana
It’s going to be fun, but messy, at first so be prepared. You will need some essentials, e.g. a high chair, bib, free flow cup, soft weaning spoons and a plastic bowl. Also useful would be a messy mat and plastic containers and ice cube trays.
All equipment for spoon feeding must be cleaned thoroughly with hot soapy water and dried carefully, or washed in a dishwasher, or can be sterilised, until your baby is six months old.
For more information please see the Starting Solids Price Comparison Tables and Report(pdf)
It is advised you never leave your baby unsupervised at mealtimes in case they choke. Please see your Fun First Foods booklet (page 13) for more information on safety and good practice at mealtimes. You can also watch the video below by British Red Cross on what to do if your baby chokes:
If your child’s first teeth have not come through yet, it is still important to start them on the path to good oral health. In her video, Fiona, one of our Health Improvement Practitioners gives some tips and advice on how to do this.
Starting Solids Show – First Teeth (Oral Health)
You can also find out more information including teething, caring for your baby’s first teeth and healthy snack ideas on the Childsmile website.
Vitamin D is essential for keeping bones healthy. It is very hard to get vitamin D from foods or the Scottish sunshine alone, so it is important that you follow the Scottish Government recommendations below:
• breastfed babies from birth to 1 year of age should be given a daily supplement containing 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D
• formula-fed babies shouldn’t be given a vitamin D supplement until they’re having less than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day, as infant formula is fortified with vitamin D
• children aged 1 to 4 years old should be given a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D
Vitamin D supplements are now available free of charge for all breastfeeding women and children under 3 years old available at all pharmacies in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board area.
Pregnant women and families on low income who have children aged up to three years old might be entitled to Best Start benefits. For more information, please visit:
Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods – mygov.scot
and
Best Start Foods – Citizens Advice Scotland for Best Start Foods
Due to COVID-19 all local starting solids events (sometimes called ‘weaning fayres’) have been cancelled until further notice.
The following are further information sources on all aspects of introducing solids to your baby and lots more, from premature babies, speech development, infant feeding and oral health to safety.
Premature Babies
The NHSGGC KIDS website provided information on prematurity.
Please note the information for introducing foods to premature babies (pureed food only at this stage) is very different from introducing solids to a baby born at full term and therefore, it only applies to premature babies. For more information on this topic, please see Rachel’s Part 1 video.
The BLISS website Bliss – Weaning your premature baby also contains information on the topic of introducing solids to your premature baby.
Nutrition
Did you know you can access ‘Fun First Foods’ booklet by Pubic Health Scotland in other formats:
Audio version of the ‘Fun First Foods’ booklet by Pubic Health Scotland
And in other languages: Arabic, Farsi, Portuguese, Russian, Vietnamese, Urdu, traditional and simplified Chinese, Polish, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Bengali, Slovak and Romanian.
First Steps Nutrition Trust (FSN) – click on ‘Eating well resources’ then ‘Infants & new mums’ and scroll down to ‘Eating well: the first year A guide to introducing solids and eating well up to baby’s first birthday’. (Please note that in line with the Scottish Government and NHS guidelines, it is recommended to start introducing solids with well mashed (not pureed) foods. Therefore, it is suggested that in place of some of the FSN Trust’s recipe suggestions to blend/purée the food, a well-mashed texture (not blended) is used from around 6 months, increasing the texture with age.)
& Infant milks for parents & carers — First Steps Nutrition Trust –information on suitable milks for babies and lots more.
Lots of useful information for parents from Parent Club, Scottish Government
Parent Club Weaning Tips Parent Club – What is weaning
Complementary Feeding fact sheet by British Dietetic Association. Please note that the information on the vitamin supplementation, especially Healthy Start/Vitamin D for Scotland is different.
All you need to know about salt (for all age groups) from Action on Salt website
Vitamin D
The most up to date information on Vitamin D can be found here. You will find information on the new free Vitamin D supplements within NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board area (as of July 2021) and lots more on Vitamin D.
Oral Health
Childsmile programme – improving the oral health of children in Scotland, Scottish Government & Public Health Scotland.
Speech development
Information on Listening, Understanding, Talking and Interacting can be found on our KIDS website.
Information around breastfeeding, infant feeding and lots more
Safety – relating to introducing solids to your baby
At Home – Food Standards Scotland – these tips will help make sure the food you cook and eat won’t do you any harm.
British Red Cross – Baby First Aid: How to save a choking baby
Please contact your Health Visitor or Family Nurse if you have any further questions about introducing solids to your baby.