Person Centred Visiting is in place across NHSGGC, including maternity antenatal, postnatal, and ultrasound appointments. In most circumstances we ask that there are no more than 2 visitors at a time (not including children) at the bedside. These visitors can change.
If possible, please arrange childcare for ultrasound appointments. If you need to discuss this, please phone the number in your ultrasound appointment letter.
Essential visiting is when visiting needs to be more carefully managed, such as in the event of an outbreak of infection. During these times, there may be the need to temporarily restrict visiting in individual ward areas to prevent the spread of infection, and to protect patients, families and staff. This is normal practice in the management of an infection outbreak.
We understand the vital support that family and friends provide to maintain wellbeing. NHSGGC is committed to take as flexible, person-centred and compassionate approach to facilitate family and friend support. We will try to facilitate visits in any situation where it is important for family to be involved for ethical, safety or other reasons.
The following are examples of where an ‘essential visit’ will be supported for family members:
This list is not exhaustive. A flexible and compassionate approach will always guide decision making.
Person Centred Virtual Visiting (video calls) is in place to help people maintain contact with their relatives/friends, when in-person visits are not possible. People can see and talk to those who matter to them using NHS Near Me / Attend Anywhere. You can access this on mobile phones, laptops or computers. iPads are available on all wards if you do not have, or are unable to use, your own device.
For more information, please visit our Person Centred Virtual Visiting webpage.
Please do not hesitate to speak to with ward staff if you have any questions. You can find Ward and Department telephone numbers on the NHSGGC website.
Give and Go services are running from 12.00 – 5.00pm Monday to Friday at the main entrances of Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Royal Alexandra Hospital from Thursday 17 March onwards. This is due to local temporary essential visiting restrictions which are now in place.
Our volunteer-run Give and Go service enables families and friends to safely collect personal laundry and hand in comfort items and essential belongings for their loved ones while they are in hospital and patient visiting is restricted due to COVID-19.
If you or a loved one would like to use the service, we ask that you only bring one small bag (e.g. a small rucksack or carrier bag) that is sealed with sellotape or masking tape and marked with the patient’s name, ward details and date of birth. Please try to ensure that only one person attends the hospital to hand in belongings.
We accept personal and comfort items.
You will be able to drop off essential items to our volunteers who will deliver these to the wards for your loved ones. Please ensure you observe social distancing when using this volunteer service. Many people want to bring food to their relative in hospital and we understand why this is important. Please only send small items of food that do not need to go in the fridge, or need to be reheated.
If you would like to collect laundry please call the ward in advance of your visit to arrange and the volunteers will collect it from the ward when you arrive.
These web pages explain what we are doing to address discrimination and bring about better equalities in health.
We want to ensure that everyone who uses our healthcare services, or works for us, is treated fairly. This means making sure that services are working well for everyone and that people are getting information in a way they can understand.
We also report on how we are upholding the equality laws designed to protect people from unfair discrimination.
To view these reports, find out more about our work and to contact the NHSGGC Equality & Human Rights Team, see below.
The information provided here is intended to help you find out what to expect during this difficult time, as well as providing information about some of the practical arrangements you will need to consider.
Due to the pandemic, some of the usual arrangements may have changed, however, support is still available.
Call: 0141 370 4747
Email: GHsupport@childbereavementuk.org
Child Bereavement UK has been commissioned by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde with funding from Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity to provide bereavement support for families bereaved of a baby or child, and training to support NHSGGC staff.
Child Bereavement UK is a national charity which supports families and educates professionals when a baby or child dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement.
This leaflet will guide you through what to expect and what can happen when someone is at the end of their life.
What can happen when someone is dying (Latest English language version)
Alternative language versions (please note these are the previous version of the booklet)
What can happen when someone is dying (Arabic)
What can happen when someone is dying (Mandarin)
What can happen when someone is dying (Polish)
What can happen when someone is dying (Punjabi)
When someone close to you dies, you may be unsure what to do. This leaflet will help you understand:
An NHS Healthcare Chaplain is always on-call and ward staff can arrange for them to be paged.
Arrangements for Death Certification may have changed due to Covid-19. Local Authority websites should have the latest information from your area.
Can offer advice on installing disability equipment, information on benefits and other services.
EQUIPU is a service responsible for providing, delivering and installing a range of disability equipment supplied by health and social work services to disabled people living at home.
For further information or to arrange uplift contact:
Telephone. 0141 287 6300
Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief is working to make Scotland a place where there is more openness about death, dying and bereavement so that:
Lifelink offers a range of stress services for adults and young people in communities and schools across Glasgow City.
Living Life is a free telephone service available to anyone over the age of 16 who is suffering from low mood, mild to moderate depression and/or anxiety.
NHS Inform Bereavement area can help you find answers to your questions and guide you through the early days of your bereavement. It can also help you understand more of the experience of loss in the days that lie ahead.
New grief and bereavement service for families in Renfrewshire. Visit the website for more information:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory infection that affects your lungs and airways. At this time, it is especially important to eat healthily so that our bodies are more able to fight infections such as COVID-19.
If you are worried about your weight or want help to eat more healthily and lose weight, we can help.
The way we shop and eat may have changed during COVID-19 restrictions. This may mean having to cook more on a tighter budget, feed children during school closures, or relying on others to do the shopping.
If you are overweight or have type 2 diabetes, it is important to follow a healthy diet.
Having Diabetes does not mean you are more likely to catch coronavirus (COVID-19). However, if you do catch coronavirus (COVID-19), it can cause more severe symptoms and complications. Diabetes UK provide specific advice for people with diabetes, their family and friends.
For people with diabetes or a BMI of 40 or above it is very important to maintain a healthy weight or lose some weight. This may seem very challenging due to the current restrictions but there are lots of useful resources to help (see information in the boxes below).
Glasgow and Clyde Weight Management Services are targeted at adults, aged 18 and over, with existing health conditions that will be improved by losing weight. If you have:
You can self-refer to the weight management service by calling 0141 211 3379 or completing our online referral form.
For young people between 12 to 18 the Weight to Go programme is currently operating a waiting list.
At this time, it is especially important to eat well and be a healthy weight to keep you and your households healthy.
You may be preparing and cooking more meals at home. Food Standards Scotland has useful information on food safety to help make sure the food you cook and eat won’t do you any harm.
If you are looking for meal ideas that are low cost, quick and easy to prepare Eat Better Feel Better recipes are free to access and also has meal planners and cook-a-long videos. Love Food Hate Waste also have lots of recipes and information and tips on reducing food waste.
Information on the benefits of a healthy diet can be accessed on NHS Inform Food and Nutrition.
Practical help and great resources to help you lose weight are available. Have a look at our Eat Well Feel Good Look Great Lose weight practical guide or try the new NHS Inform 12 week online weight management programme.
Keeping active during this difficult time can be challenging, but help and advice on staying active and well is available.
This is a challenging time and will cause worry for some households. We have gathered local information on the COVID-19 response to food. It provides information on how to access food including the newly established community hubs, food aid, meal providers, information for specific groups such as shielded households and those entitled to free school meals.
Find information and support to access food in your area.
COVID-19 might affect you financially. Our Money Worries page provides information about COVID-19 and your finances, changes to benefits claims and the support services available.
Pregnant women and families who have children aged up to three years old on low income might be entitled to Best Start Food benefits.
Many people are being asked to stay at home if they are shielding or self-isolating. During these measures you may want to take a vitamin supplement containing vitamin D.
The Scottish Government are currently advising people to stay at home. This may mean staying indoors for much of the day which could result in not getting enough Vitamin D from sunlight. During stay at home restrictions, guidance on vitamin D has been revised to reflect the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. National information on shielding can be found on the NHS Inform site.
Everyone (including children and pregnant and breastfeeding women) should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D. This is especially important for people who are indoors all of the time for bone and muscle health. More information is available via the Scottish Government website.
Vitamin D supplements can be purchased at most supermarkets and pharmacies. If you are self-isolating or shielding and are unable to go to the shops help is available in your area.
All pregnant women are entitled to free Healthy Start vitamins, which contain Vitamin D from your midwife. Women and children who qualify for the Best Start Foods scheme in Scotland can get free Healthy Start vitamins containing the recommended amounts of vitamin D from your community pharmacy. Healthy Start vitamins are also available to purchase if you do not qualify for Best Start Food
People aged 70 or older are more at risk from COVID-19 and should follow social distancing measures to keep safe.
Age Scotland has compiled advice for older people and their families on how to avoid exposure to the virus, and includes advice on shopping. Age Scotland also have a helpline Telephone: 0800 12 44 222.
Local community support is also available for those who require assistance to access food and support. Please see our local information and support.
Support is available for anyone who has been hospitalised due to COVID-19.
Our Support and Information Service (SIS) provides support and information on a range of issues including money advice, energy and carers support. We also provide an emergency food discharge pack for vulnerable inpatients being discharged from QEUH, GRI and RAH who either have no food at home or are unable to food shop due to COVID-19.
We will also make onward referrals to services providing food shopping and medicine deliveries.
Find out more about feeding your baby and starting solids.
The health of the public remains a top priority as we respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.
We want to encourage everyone to keep healthy during this unprecedented disruption to our daily life. This means taking care of both your physical and mental health.
With this in mind, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has pulled together a number of resources to help you do this.
As we all follow Government advice to limit our social activities, we can continue being physically active. If you are well, a daily routine which includes physical activity can help you feel less anxious and help you sleep better.
If you are unwell, use all your energy to get better and don’t try to do too much. When you’re getting better, return to your normal activities gradually.
Being outside in the fresh air and green space can help reduce stress and make us feel better. Unless you are self-isolating, you can walk, jog, run or cycle outside on your own, as long as you keep 2 metres (three paces) away from other people.
Walking is a great simple form of physical activity. Tracking your steps with a pedometer, a fitness tracker or a phone app can help you keep you motivated to stay active.
World Walking – Download the free app or visit the website and try to virtually walk your way around a number of routes from across the world.
Active 10 App – free app to help you get into the habit of walking briskly for 10 minutes every day. You can also connect with other others to spur each other on.
You don’t need a gym or special equipment to be active, there are lots of things you can do at home to help you stay active.
These online activities are designed for kids to get active, but can be used by the whole family:
It’s important to take care of your mental health during this period.
You can do so by staying connected with friends and family, taking breaks from the news, and finding ways to relax. You can find more information on the SAMH website.
The Scottish Government has also launched the Clear your head website providing tips and ideas to help you look after your mental wellbeing.
There’s little doubt that the days ahead will be challenging both mentally and physically for all of us. Pressure of this type can help us perform at our best, with focus and skill, however we also need ways to take care of ourselves, and to balance the effects of stress.
No matter how experienced or calm we are, a crisis like this will activate our fight and flight response to threat. This is completely normal. Our threat system is programmed to protect us in a short term emergency. However when the cascade of activity triggered in our fight or flight system goes on at a high level for a lengthy period it can cause us significant health issues, can lower our immunity and lead to burnout. We can feel panic and want to run, perhaps become nippy and irritable, or simply freeze and want to hide. These are all normal reactions in intensely stressful situations.
Mindfulness can help us notice when our stress levels are becoming more toxic. We can learn how to create a pause, even for a few moments, and check in with ourselves. We can cultivate skills to help us step out of automatic and really notice how we are in any moment. This can help us respond appropriately to the challenges of a constantly changing situation. Mindfulness can also strengthen our ability to fully focus on one thing at a time, doing the best we can. A mindful pause can help when we need to make decisions and to know when to ask for help.
The STOP process can act as a foundation to finding a mindful pause:
Stop! Tune in to the soles of your feet contacting the floor, noticing the feeling of pressure and support even if your feet are aching. This can help with a sense of steadiness and grounding…arriving in the present moment. Your feet are as far away as possible from a racing mind.
Take a few slower and deeper breaths, as best as you can, doing this gently without a sense of forcing or intensity. If it helps you may like to count to 4 as you breathe in and then out, noticing if you can begin to lengthen your out-breath to 6 or 8.
Observe how you are in this moment, asking ‘How is my body feeling, can I release tension from any part? Where is my mind, anxiously racing ahead, trying to chase the’ to do’ list, catastrophising? How am I feeling, can I allow myself to feel whatever is here and bring some kindness to myself and others?’
Proceed. The intensity of the situation may not have changed; however, you may be able to relate to it with a little more awareness, steadiness and kindly understanding towards yourself and those around you.
With our lives drastically changed, there could be an increase in alcohol consumption for some.
The chief medical officer’s advice for adults aged 18 and over is:
If you wish to cut down the amount you drink, a good way to help achieve this is to have several drink free days each week.
If you want to find out more information or are looking for advice or support, visit:
Call: 0141 577 3093. The helpline is open Monday to Friday 8.45am – 4.45pm (excluding bank holidays), or email shielding@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk
For clear information on shielding including what it is, who it applies to, how to access help and other FAQs, visit:
Non-shielding residents are directed to the East Renfrewshire Community Hub where volunteers are helping other vulnerable and isolated residents
The Community Hub helpline is 0141 876 9555 and is open Monday to Friday, 10.00am – 3.00pm
Call: 0800 111 4000. The helpline is open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm. Or email shielding@eastdunbarton.gov.uk
Information is hosted on their dedicated Coronavirus web pages: East Dunbarton residents council democracy coronavirus-covid-19.
For clear information on shielding including what it is, who it applies to, how to access help and other FAQs, visit:
Residents who require support but are not shielding are clearly directed to the East Dunbartonshire Voluntary Action (EDVA) who are working in partnership with the providers of the Older People’s Advice Line (OPAL) to support those who need some extra help.
They can be contacted on 0141 438 2347. The helpline is open 7 days a week from 9.00am – 5.00pm
Call the helpline on: 0141 276 1185, 7 days a week, 9am – 5pm
Or email: ShieldingResponse@glasgow.gov.uk
For information on shielding visit:
There is an extensive FAQs section on shielding to support residents.
For those who are not shielding, they are directed to the Community Hub for Glasgow, which has been set up by Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector and the Health and Social Care Partnership. The Hub provides information on local groups and organisations in your area that can provide support for a wide range of activities, including accessing food and picking up medication.
Residents can contact the Community Hub on 0141 345 0543, Monday to Friday, 9.00am – 5.00pm. Or visit:
Call the helpline on: 0300 300 0230, 7 days a week, 8.45am – 4.45pm
Or email: Shielding.Support.Referrals@renfrewshire.gov.uk
The free helpline is available on 0800 111 4000, Monday to Friday, 9.00am – 5.00pm.
For shielding information visit:
Call the community helpline on: 0800 111 4000, Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm.
Call the helpline on: 01389 738282 (option 5) or visit
In line with Scottish Government guidance concerning COVID testing, our asymptomatic Community Testing facilities, where members of the public can access free on-site Lateral Flow tests and pick up test kits for home testing, closed on the 14th of April 2022.
If you would like to pick up a test kit before the community test centres close, please visit one of the following sites:
No test centres available.
No test centres available.
No test centres available.
No test centres available.
No test centres available.
No test centres available.
Please note that depending on demand, members of the public may be only be given a maximum of two LFT packs (each containing seven tests) per visit.
Each of the centres works on a drop-in basis, with no appointment necessary. We would like to encourage everyone living or working in the area near one of these testing sites to go along and have a rapid test (you will get a result in 30 minutes or less).
The centres will also advise of support available if you have a positive test so that you can isolate and not spread the infection.
The UK Government testing sites for members of the public who have COVID symptoms and require a PCR test will remain open until the end of April. You can book a PCR test via NHSInform or by using the link sent to you if you are contacted by our Test and Protect team.
COVID-19 is a viral infection caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. Typical symptoms include fever, loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste (anosmia) or a new, continuous cough. One can have any one or more of these symptoms. In some cases infection can cause serious symptoms, including pneumonia or difficulty breathing, which might require admission to hospital.
Some people with COVID-19 may not have symptoms of the virus or they can be so mild or unusual that they are not recognised as COVID-19, even though they are infected and are infectious to others.
Generally, coronavirus causes more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease. Those who are unvaccinated are also at risk of developing more serious symptoms and being hospitalised.
For information on attending maternity units, visiting and attending hospital for a scan, please click the below link:
Emergency social work services provide assessment and intervention in emergency situations to relieve acute risk. We deal with referrals which are too urgent to wait for Social Work Service offices to re-open.
You should only call 999 in a medical emergency, when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
If you are unsure if it is an emergency, call NHS 24 on 111.
An operator will ask which emergency service you need. If it’s a medical emergency, ask for the ambulance service. The ambulance service will ask some questions to find out what has happened and arrange the most appropriate help.
Further information is available on the Scottish Ambulance Service website:
By only calling 999 for serious illnesses or injuries, it means that people who need essential treatment can get it as soon as possible.
