NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has just welcomed its newest team member.
He’s got his own ID badge and a special calling card to explain his role – and his new colleagues are falling over themselves to find ways to spend time with him.
But who is this mystery staff member? A high-flying surgeon? A specialist nurse who’s transforming care in our hospitals?
No, he’s a Hearing Dog called Cooper – and he joined NHSGGC when his owner, Dr Helen Grote, was recruited as a Consultant Neurologist.
Helen and Cooper are based within the Neurology Department at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and, even though they only joined the team on 23rd September, they’re already making a big impression.
Helen had been working as a consultant in London before taking the plunge and moving north.
She said: “I’d been thinking of making a move but wanted to make sure I chose a good centre for neurology, so when this role emerged I jumped at the chance.
“I was born in Glasgow, and know Scotland well, so I’m really happy to be back. It’s also lovely to have a change of scene from London.
“Cooper has a garden for the first time, and we both enjoy heading out into the countryside and going for long walks. That’s another thing that simply wasn’t possible in London, so we’re both making the most of it.”
Cooper is Helen’s first Hearing Dog, and the two of them have been working together since March 2023.
“I have a cochlear implant,” she said, “and I would have no hearing otherwise. I wear my cochlear implant during the daytime but have to take it off at night. Cooper is most useful at home – letting me know when the doorbell goes or my alarm clock sounds – but he’s also a real boon at work.
“When I’m on teams calls and the phone I have little awareness of what’s going on around me, so he’s great for letting me know when someone’s knocking on my office door, and we’ve trained him to alert me to fire alarms and the like.”
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has a motto – “helping deaf people to leave loneliness behind” – and that’s where Helen has found Cooper to be a particular help.
She said: “At conferences and events where there are lots of people and background noise, I would struggle to keep up with conversations and just become isolated. Cooper has helped change that, as he acts as an introduction to lots of people.
“Deafness is an invisible disability, and I’ve found Cooper has been great at breaking down barriers.
“And since moving to Glasgow and starting work here, he’s been absolutely great in helping me to settle in.
“Lots of people are finding reasons to drop in and say hello, which is a lovely way to meet and get to know my new colleagues. And for patients, Cooper even has his own calling card, introducing him and explaining his role.
“Overall, there’s been a hugely positive reaction to him … and that has been a real help to me.”
And while Helen is delighted that she and Cooper have fitted in so well at NHSGGC, she is particularly grateful to her managers and senior colleagues for making the recruitment process and transition to her new role such a positive one.
“From the application process to my arrival at NHSGGC, and the support I’ve received since then, I can only say thank you to all those who have done so much to make me feel welcome,” she said.
Susan Groom, Director of Regional Services at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “NHSGGC works hard to make all our staff feel welcome and supported when they join our teams, and we will do all we can to accommodate their particular needs.
“I’m happy to hear that Helen is settling in so well, and I would like to thank all our staff for their help.
“It’s also lovely to have Cooper around. He’s already a much-loved member of the team, and when Helen is doing her ward rounds and can’t take Cooper with her, there’s quite a rush among staff to be the one to look after him!
“We hope Helen’s story will act as an inspiration to others, and show that there’s a place at NHSGGC for anyone who is right for the many roles we have on offer.”
While Cooper is a highly trained working dog, and wears a Hearing Dogs uniform while on duty, when he and Helen are relaxing at home he’s just like any other pet pooch.
Helen said: “When you’re accepted to receive a Hearing Dog, they work with you to identify a dog that’s right for you. I’d expected to be paired with a small dog, and was surprised when they paired me with a 28kg black Labrador!
“But Cooper is so gentle and docile, and so much fun when we’re out for one of our walks, that I can’t imagine being without him now.”
Darcy Power, a trainer with Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, said: “Cooper has always been a friendly, confident boy, which made him the perfect partner for Helen. He is a great ambassador for the charity too, as he loves to wear his uniform to work. As his trainer, I’m very proud of him and the amazing work he and Helen do together.”
When a puppy is around 10 months old, trainers start to personalise their training as they have a strong idea who they will be the perfect match for.
Cooper regularly went to the local hospital during his training to introduce him to the sounds, sights and smells he would be likely to encounter in a hospital environment. He also took regular trips on public transport to prepare him for when Helen was living in London.
Life in Glasgow might be a little more laid back for them, but either way Cooper is well prepared.
Hearing Dogs is a national charity that trains dogs to alert their deaf partner to important and life-saving sounds like the smoke alarm, alarm clock and oven timers. Their burgundy coats also act as a visual reminder to the public when they are out and about that their partner is deaf.
Deafness can be very isolating, so a hearing dog also offers constant companionship and emotional support, giving deaf people the confidence to reconnect with their family, friends and community around them. This combination of practical assistance and lifelong friendship can be completely life-changing.
Hearing Dogs has a national shortage of volunteer puppy trainers at the moment. No experience is needed, just plenty of time and love to give a pup.
To find out more about Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, and how to become a volunteer, go to: hearingdogs.org.uk
