NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde – Page 2 – The NEN

‘We’re proud of all of our teams’

Senior NHSGGC clinicians write to First Minister and Cabinet Secretary over ‘unfounded criticism’ by politicians and in media

Senior clinicians from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Humza Yousaf, to express their disappointment and frustration about the way in which their work and integrity have been portrayed in the Scottish Parliament and the media in recent days.

Here is the full text of that letter:

Dear First Minister and Cabinet Secretary,

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital/Royal Hospital for Children

As NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde clinicians and clinical leaders, we write to express our immense disappointment and frustration about the way in which our hospitals, our colleagues and the treatment of our patients is being portrayed in the press and the chamber of the Scottish Parliament.

Our highly specialist services care for, treat and support some of the most vulnerable adults, young people and children in the country. Our sole aim is to deliver high quality, person centred care to our patients and focus on what matters most to them; fundamental to this is the strong working relationship between our clinical teams and infection control teams to keep our patients safe.

We have been, and remain, fully committed to being completely open and transparent in all that we do and we are dismayed that the integrity of our staff has been repeatedly called into question. Do we always get everything right when we discuss issues with families? Perhaps not. Do we ever wilfully withhold information from them? Absolutely not.

We have grave concerns that the continued undermining nature of the current negative headlines will result in an erosion of trust between clinical staff and patients and their families. Indeed, we have already seen evidence of the impact this is having on individual patients and carers, with staff reporting that families are very anxious about the safety of their relative while in our care.

We are particularly disappointed that individual patients are being discussed in Parliament without the knowledge of the families concerned, causing untold distress to families already grieving the loss of their loved one.

This unfounded criticism of our clinical teams and staff as well as the safety of our hospitals, is also hugely detrimental to staff morale at a time when so much is being asked of them.

Our staff across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, including the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus, provide professional, dedicated care to their patients and as we prepare for a challenging winter, this sustained criticism of our staff is undoubtedly causing them distress and worry.

We are proud of all of our teams, many of which include leading specialists, but we fear that such negativity will have an enormous impact on our ability to recruit and retain such skilled individuals in the future as well as those of wider clinical, nursing and support staff. We will always treat our patients with integrity, dignity, respect and honesty and this should never be in doubt.

We accept that there will always be improvements we can make and learning we can implement, but at the heart of all that we do, is the commitment from every clinician working within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to provide the best quality of care for all of our patients and to be open and honest with them and their loved ones about their diagnosis and treatment.

Anything less would undermine the professional code of practice each of us sign up to at the start of our careers and adhere to throughout.

Yours sincerely

Dr Jennifer Armstrong, Medical Director
Dr Margaret McGuire, Nurse Director
Dr Scott Davidson, Deputy Medical Director (Acute)
Angela O’Neill, Deputy Nurse Director (Acute)
Dr Chris Deighan, Deputy Medical Director (Corporate)
Dr Kerri Neylon, Deputy Medical Director, Primary Care
Mr Wesley Stuart, Chief of Medicine, South Sector
Dr Claire Harrow, Chief of Medicine, Clyde Sector
Ann-Marie Selby, Interim Associate Chief Nurse Clyde Sector
Hon. Professor Colin McKay, Chief of Medicine, North Sector
John Carson, Chief Nurse, North Sector
Hon. Professor Alistair Leanord, Chief of Medicine, Diagnostics
Dr Alan Mathers, Chief of Medicine, Women and Children’s Services
Morag Gardner, Chief Nurse, South Sector
Mandy Meechan, Interim Chief Nurse, Women and Children’s (designate)
Patricia Friel, Interim Chief Nurse, Women and Children Services
Dr David Dodds, Chief of Medicine, Regional Services
Lorna Loudon, Interim Chief Nurse, Regional Services
Dr Martin Culshaw, Associate Medical Director, Mental Health
Gail Caldwell, Director of Pharmacy
Fiona Smith, AHP Director
Evelyn Frame, Chief Midwife
Margaret Connelly, Assistant Chief Nurse, Governance and Regulation
Lesley Rousselet, Chair, Area Clinical Forum

New clinics introduced to provide COVID jabs for newly arrived asylum seekers

A vaccination clinic has been set up in Glasgow to provide COVID vaccinations for newly arrived asylum seekers.

The clinic, which welcomed the first vaccination patients to its base in Govan last Friday, is part of the Asylum Health Bridging Team which provides a range of health services to some of Scotland’s most vulnerable communities.

Craig Davidson, a senior nurse within the team, helped to administer the first vaccines at the clinic. He said: “People have been really positive about getting access to the vaccine – to protect them and the wider community. We want to make sure that asylum seekers get the same access to health care and the COVID vaccine as the rest of the population.”

The clinic is targeting asylum seekers who have recently arrived in Glasgow, in the four to six week window where the team can offer assistance before patients’ asylum journey progresses. An initial health assessment can take up to 90 minutes, looking at physical illnesses and conditions and to provide mental health and trauma support.

The team also support people who may have been victims of trafficking and women who may have been subject to abuse or FGM. After the initial assessment is over, patients are invited back to the clinic for the COVID vaccination, with accommodation provider Mears, arranging transport.

Craig added: “It’s about building trust. We support them through the traumatic experience they have been through and at least 95% have been through a traumatic journey just to get to the UK.”

The clinic was the brainchild of Stewart Curtis, team leader at the service. While asylum seekers already established in accommodation were targeted as part of earlier COVID vaccination outreach programmes, or able to access their jab through community clinics, Stewart recognised that not everyone could do the same.

Stewart said: “The people we are seeing don’t know the community, they don’t know where to go. I wouldn’t even try to imagine what some of our service users have left behind and what some of them have gone through just to get here.

“We’re the first point of NHS contact for them. We are that friendly face and space, somewhere they feel comfortable and we can have the vaccination clinic here, where people know us and feel they are in a safe and supportive environment.”

Stewart said his team have welcomed the opportunity to add the vaccine to the range of support services on offer.

He added: “I know the positive impact my staff are having on each individual’s life that comes through the door – that makes me really proud.”

Craig has also seen the benefits. He said: “I began my nursing career in May 2020, in the middle of the pandemic. I used to work in a ward treating patients who had COVID and dealing with a high level of death and trauma was, for me, really hard.

“It’s great to see this side with people who are so pleased to get the vaccine in the knowledge that it will protect them and the wider community.”

Hope for Isabella

The parents of a six-week old baby girl who is one of the first in the UK to be given access to a new, potentially life-saving drug are thanking the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde team for giving their daughter a chance of a normal, healthy life.

Isabella Winfield was born on 30 April in Elgin to her parents Richard and Margaret, and within her first day of life it was clear that something was not quite as it should be.

Mum Margaret, from Archiestown said: “From her first check-up, the midwife was concerned that Isabella appeared to be floppy and told us she would need to refer her on to the paediatricians. From then they started lots of tests, focussing on her muscle function.

“As a new mum it was quite overwhelming. One minute I was a new mum, the next I had a very sick baby. But the team were great and their support was invaluable. Gene tests were started and we waited 11 days for the results.”

Tests concluded that Isabella had Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Babies born with Type 1 SMA, which is the most common form of the condition, experience progressive muscle weakness, loss of movement, difficulty breathing. Sadly, without treatment, 90% don’t survive past their first year of life.

While this was devastating news, there was hope – in the form of Zolgensma. Zolgensma has just been made available on the NHS after the health service struck a deal with manufacturers Novartis Gene Therapies.

Margaret said: “I was aware of Zolgensma but thought it was still in trials. As soon as they said it was available to us, we just thought yes, go for it. We had no hesitation. If it’s available for her, it’s her best hope.”

Looking after Isabella and her family was Royal Hospital for Children neurologist Dr Iain Horrocks, who has spent his career specialising in neuromuscular disorders in children.

Dr. Horrocks said: “Tragically, most babies with Type 1 SMA would die within six months. There was no treatment. It’s a disorder of the Motor Unit and the missing gene means messages from the spinal cord where the gene is located to the muscles aren’t received. This results in muscle atrophy (or death). Typically it presents as babies struggled to feed, but it was often as late as six months before it became apparent.

“For the last few years we have had access to a drug which works well in stopping muscle deterioration, but it needs to be given every four months for life. It’s injected into the spine. As they get older, patients hate getting it and there can be problems getting access to the spine, so it’s not ideal. And it’s not a gene therapy.

“Zolgensma is a game changer. Time is of the essence – the sooner it’s given the better and muscle function is protected from any further deterioration. Literally every day counts. It’s also less invasive as it’s given as a single, once only infusion, rather than being injected into the spine.”

Isabella was diagnosed at just 11 days old and nine days later received her potentially life-saving treatment.

He said: “It all happened really quickly. I met them on the Wednesday with the diagnosis “virtually” with my colleague Dr Elma Stephen from Aberdeen Children’s Hospital. We brought them down to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, the following Wednesday, gave her some steroids, and infused her on the Thursday.

“Isabella was the ideal candidate for Zolgensma. As she presented so young she managed the viral load of the gene therapy infusion really well. She was the perfect candidate for this treatment presenting at the perfect age”.

“I’m so pleased that we got to her so early. We only treated her about three weeks ago when she was only three weeks old, so it is probably too early to talk about the future, but we are, of course, optimistic. She is prime candidate to do really well with this therapy and we should see some real improvements with her in the next couple of months.

“The expectation from Isabella is that she could go on to hit her motor milestones within the WHO (World Health Organisation) classifications, such as sitting, standing and walking. So we really hope she will progress nicely, albeit, she will be a bit weak. We hope she will be able to have a full life whereas a few years ago I would never have been able to talk about SMA babies like this.”

Dr Horrocks says he feels re-invigorated in his work, having had so many years where he was unable to hold out any hope for babies like this and their families.

He added: “This has radically turned the approach with these patients on its head! It re-enthuses you for your work. I think I can do this for the next 15 or 20 years because it makes it all worthwhile. I am very hopeful for children with this condition in the coming years. It’s life changing.”

Back in Archiestown, Richard, Margaret and baby Isabella are settling into life – with hope for her future.

Margaret said: “At the end of the day, we have hope for her to go on and be a happy, healthy little girl. We are so grateful to everyone involved.”

Greater Glasgow launches drop-in COVID vaccination centres for people aged 40 and over

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has announced the latest stage in its fight against COVID-19.

The First Minister announced yesterday that Glasgow is to remain in level three lockdown for a further week.

Six months into the vaccination programme, and with nearly one million people having received their first dose, NHSGGC is opening drop-in vaccination centres for people aged 40 years and over.

If you are 40 or over and have not yet had your first dose of vaccine, or have waited more than 10 weeks for your second dose of Astra Zeneca – in other words, if you had your first dose in March – you can come along to one of the centres listed below from today (Saturday 29^th May) and get vaccinated.

People will be seen on a first come first served basis, and there will be a set capacity each day. Future dates will be made available if required and we will use our social media channels to keep you regularly updated about potentially busy periods at each of the centres.

For more information, go to our website at NHSGGC: Drop-In Vaccinations

Drop-in centre locations and times:

Saturday 29^th May:

Mobile vaccination unit, New Victoria Ambulatory Care Hospital, Minor Injuries Unit car park, 11am-6.30pm

Sunday 30^th:

SSE Hydro, 9am-6pm

Monday 31^st:

Glasgow Club Easterhouse, 9am-6pm
Glasgow Club Donald Dewar, 9am-6pm
Hub Community Centre Clydebank, 9am-3pm

Tuesday 1^st June:

Mobile vaccination unit, Govan Housing Association Car Park, 35 McKechnie Street, Govan, Glasgow, G51 3AQ, 11am-6.30pm
Lagoon Leisure Centre, Paisley, 9am-6pm

Wednesday 2^nd:

SSE Hydro, 9am-6pm
Glasgow Central Mosque, 9am-6pm
Lagoon Leisure Centre, Paisley, 9am-6pm
Allander Leisure Centre, Bearsden, 9am-6pm
Mobile Vaccination Unit, Shields Health and care Centre Shields Centre, 80 McCulloch Street, Pollockshields, G41 1NX, 11am-6:30pm

Thursday 3^rd:

SSE Hydro, 9am-6pm
Glasgow Central Mosque, 9am-6pm
Alexandria Community Centre, 9am-3pm
Barmulloch Community Centre, Glasgow, 9am-6pm

Friday 4^th:

SSE Hydro, 9am-6pm
Glasgow Central Mosque, 9am-6pm
Barrhead Foundry, 9am-3pm
Carmichael Hall, Eastwood, 9am-6pm
Glasgow Club Castlemilk, 9am-3pm
Port Glasgow, 9am-3pm

Saturday 5^th:

SSE Hydro, 9am-6pm
Glasgow Central Mosque, 9am-6pm
Carmichael Hall, Eastwood, 9am-6pm
Renfrew Leisure Centre, 9am-3pm
Johnstone Town Hall, 9am-3pm

Sunday 6^th:

SSE Hydro, 9am-6pm
Glasgow Central Mosque, 9am-6pm
Kirkintilloch Leisure Centre, 9am-3pm
Greenock Town Hall, 9am-6pm
Concorde Centre, Dumbarton, 9am-3pm

Glasgow will move to Level 2 from next weekend as long as key indicators remain stable or fall, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced yesterday.

In line with the recommendation of the National Incident Management Team (NIMT), the First Minister said there are signs that the situation is stabilising in the postcodes at the heart of the initial outbreak and across the city generally, and that, if that trend continues, the city can move to Level 2 from 00:01 on Saturday 5 June.

The First Minister said yesterday: “Case levels in Glasgow are uncomfortably high but there are signs of progress. So the view of the National Incident Management Team is that it would be premature to move Glasgow out of Level 3 this week while the situation remains so fragile. However, if incidence continues to stabilise, and assuming levels of hospitalisation remain reasonably stable, they will support a move to Level 2 from the end of next week.

“Of course, it is necessary that we do see progress continue. We will be watching the critical statistics carefully every day. If the massive public health efforts continue to have an impact; if our collective efforts continue to drive the virus back; then from next Saturday – 5 June – the plan would be for the city to move to Level 2.

“But, I need to be very clear. We need to see the positive signs to continue to make that a reality. To give as much advance notice as possible, I intend to confirm any decision to Parliament no later than Wednesday of next week.

“So, my message to the people of Glasgow is, don’t lose heart. I live in the city, so I know how hard this is. But please, continue to help with all of the public health efforts that are in place. If we continue to do that, we will move out of Level 3 quickly.

“In particular, please come forward for the vaccine – not just the first, but both doses. And that applies to young people too. This virus can and does make people ill – being young is not a cast iron protection against it. Far from it – a high proportion of the, albeit relatively low, number of hospital cases now are amongst younger age groups.”

Helping Hands: Ruth writes poem in recognition of colleagues for International Nurses Day

An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde critical care worker has written a poem to recognise the hard work and dedication of colleagues as part of International Nurses Day 2021.

Senior Charge Nurse, Ruth Wilson, tells the tale of a nurse’s role through ‘Helping Hands’ which outlines the huge remit and responsibility of nurses in providing day-to-day care. Ruth, 55 from Ayrshire who has worked as a nurse for more than 36 years, sees first-hand how colleagues look after patients on a day-to-day basis.

Read ‘Helping Hands’ below:

Helping Hands

At the start of the day, hands are washed before countless nursing tasks
Protecting ourselves with hand hygiene and professionally fitted masks

These hands will wash patients, write careplans, and administer medication
They will clean surfaces and equipment with total dedication

These hands will give out meals, make beds, and answer numerous telephone calls
They will guide and support mobilising patients in order to prevent falls

These hands will pour cups of tea, tie up linen, and empty patient bedpans
They will secure pumps and equipment to gleaming drip stands

These hands will feed and clothe, perform oral hygiene and comb hair
They will fill out fluid balance charts and give regular catheter care

These hands will take notes on ward rounds, and order things on “Trak”
They will dispense analgesia, offer a massage or give a soothing ice pack

These hands will organise flowers, open cards and tidy the place
They will dress wounds, cut nails, moisturise patient’s bodies and their face

These hands will soothe fevered brows through the comfort of touch
They will wipe away tears when it all gets too much

These hands will perform CPR and airway skills and really without much thought
Will automatically pilot to the resuscitation skills they were taught

They will support relatives with bad news, and patients will be allowed to cry
They will perform last offices when their patients die

They will sign discharge letters when people are getting home
They will clean all the surfaces shinier than chrome

These hands are priceless hands, helping hands, the hands you hope are there
If you ever get sick yourself, you want hands that care.

RUTH WILSON

Celebrating International Day of the Midwife

Celebrating the outstanding efforts of midwives and midwifery students across the UK:

Responding to the International Day of the Midwife, Andrea Sutcliffe CBE, Chief Executive and Registrar for the Nursing and Midwifery Council, said: “Today is an important opportunity for us to recognise and celebrate the incredible efforts of UK midwives and midwifery students who, despite facing uncertainty and adapting to new ways of working, have continued to provide safe, kind and effective care and support for women and their families throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

“Babies didn’t stop for Covid-19 and midwives and midwifery students have made such an important contribution to the way the UK has responded. I’m glad we have this opportunity to celebrate their skill and professionalism and thank them for their positive impact on the women, new born infants and families they care for and support.”

Midwives have shown resilience and steadfast support for pregnant women and their babies this past year throughout NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s maternity services.

NHSGGC is celebrating the International Day of the Midwife, which always is a day of reflection of the valuable role that midwives play across the world, and especially important in the face of the pandemic.

And the Labour Ward staff team at the Princess Royal Maternity have shown the incredible contribution midwives make to the wider community too. 65 staff took part and raised £8,400 for Quarriers last month by walking an incredible 9850.88 miles – equivalent to walking to Australia from Glasgow!

The 6500-mile adventure was the brainchild of Charge Midwife Jen Johansson, who wanted to do something to help people who might be struggling in these difficult times.

Jen Johansson, Charge Midwife, Labour Ward, Princess Royal Maternity, commented: “Our role as midwives is to empower and support women during their pregnancy and birth to enable them to have a positive experience.

“It’s a very special and precious time for women. When we are with ladies in labour, that can be our full 12 hour shift – we have to ensure a safe outcome for mum and baby.

“I always wanted to be a midwife from the age of 14 and have now done it for 15 years. We get to spend a lot of time with women and their families getting to know them. Especially in the labour ward, we have a special rapport with women. We are ensuring the safe arrival of precious life, it’s amazing.”

The restrictions to hospital visiting across Scotland meant that midwives were often the only support for women other than their partners while in hospital.

Evelyn Frame, Chief Midwife, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “the theme for this year’s International Day of the Midwife is ‘Follow the data: Invest in Midwives’ and we look forward to coming together as a global community to advocate for investment in quality midwifery care around the world”.

This year’s theme is timely as it will coincide with the launch of the 2021 State of the World’s Midwifery Report that provides an updated evidence base and detailed analysis on the impact of midwives on maternal and newborn health outcomes and the return on investment in midwives.

As Chief Midwife Evelyn is extremely proud to be part of such a wonderful midwifery family across NHS GGC and would like to pass on her personal thanks to each and every member of the team who have gone above and beyond over the past year, putting women and their families at the heart of the care they provide.

Dr Margaret McGuire, Director of Nursing, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “Midwives always provide skilled, high quality care and understand what matters to the woman and her family.

“They put women first and this past year they have gone above and beyond to provide woman centred and safe care. At the core of everything they do is making the pregnancy, birth and postnatal experience as positive as possible for the woman and those who matter to her.

“My sincere thanks and praise goes out to every midwife in Greater Glasgow and Clyde on this the International Day of the Midwife.”

NHS Lothian is also celebrating their midwifery team:

Today, we are celebrating five midwives for #InternationalDayoftheMidwife under the campaign #AMillionPaths.

First up is Vickie Davitt, a gender-based violence midwife:

New guide for people recovering from COVID-19

It’s a long road to recovery for many who have contracted COVID-19. In Scotland over 185,000 people have tested positive for the virus, with over 57,000 of these cases recorded within Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

NHSGGC’s Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy teams have created a new online resource to help anyone who is recovering from the virus, having distilled what they have learned from helping people recover both at home and in hospital.

The new self-management resource is available to the public and is aimed at anyone managing the many types of symptoms associated with COVID-19. It also notes the pace of recovery may be slower than expected.

Common symptoms can include: fatigue, breathlessness, reduced exercise tolerance and lack of physical strength. The resource offers advice on recovering from the virus, managing breathlessness, general wellbeing, managing fatigue, exercise programmes and more.

Lynn Glen, Physiotherapist, NHSGGC, said: “We know that the lingering effects of COVID-19 can vary from person to person. We’ve had younger and older patients admitted to wards and intensive care units, some dealing with debilitating fatigue and breathlessness for months after being diagnosed, requiring weeks and months of rehab and physiotherapy input.

“Other patients may only require physiotherapy input for a shorter period. The length of time recovering from COVID-19 can also vary so we had to find a way to support people at home.

“We wanted to help people get back on their feet, to gain knowledge about the virus, learn how to manage their symptoms and ultimately recover with this new resource.”

You can access the new NHSGGC online resource here:

https://www.nhsggc.org.uk/your-health/health-services/allied-health-professionals-ahps/physiotherapy/

Lorna Graham, 27, who has been a nurse for three years, was diagnosed with COVID on 8 April 2020 and has not yet fully recovered. She was off work for six months and has since been diagnosed as suffering from Long COVID.

Lorna said: “The acute phase of my illness lasted a few weeks and I can truly say I felt like I was dying. Without question it was the worst I have felt in my life. It’s not that I haven’t been ill before. I have had sepsis and swine flu but this was different. It felt like I was drowning; at times I couldn’t get a breath.

“This all happened despite me being a fit 26 year old. I wasn’t a fitness fanatic, but I was active on my days off. I would go hillwalking regularly, so you could say I was fit and obviously young too.

“In the first few weeks I was at the COVID assessment centre a few times and was sent to hospital, although never admitted. I had a temperature, no taste or smell and just slept and slept.

“I waited to recover fully and it just never came. It was October before I felt able to go back to work.”

Nearly ten months on, Lorna’s health has yet to recover fully.

Top Ten Tips for Recovering from COVID-19:

Take it slow – recovery may take longer than you expect.
Eat well – your body needs nutrients to get better. This can be difficult when you lose your sense of taste / smell but just as important.
Sleep well – your body needs rest, take it easy.
Plan your day – especially important if you’re feeling fatigued. Plan your day and week to include consistent activity, rather than boom and bust cycles which may leave you more tired.
Deep breathing – sit in a relaxed position, breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth, lying on your front can also help.
Stay active – your physical strength may be impacted so build yourself back up with regular activity like walking or at home exercises.
Get up – easy to forget in lockdown, make sure you are regularly standing, set a timer to make sure you’re getting up once an hour.
Get out – make sure to get outside with nature proven to improve our wellbeing.
Relax – remember to relax your mind however that may be. Some people find meditation helpful.
Stay connected – speak to your loved ones regularly about your recovery and how you’re doing. We all need support.

Caught in the act of Care

Gallery showcases Queen Elizabeth staff at the heart of delivering care during pandemic

Within the atrium of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) we have a gallery which pays tribute to the many staff working across the hospital site to look after patients during this difficult time.

Here, we’ve collated some of the images from the ‘Caught in the act of Care’ exhibition alongside some of quotes from staff on what it’s like to work during the pandemic.

Helping hands – Hundreds of them

Powerful tribute to hospital staff

At first glance it looks like any other tribute to our NHS staff – a rainbow taking pride of place on the wall of a busy corridor.

But on closer inspection, it’s clear this rainbow means more than most. It is made of up more than 300 coloured hand-prints, alongside more than 300 names and a simple message – ‘These hands helped, held, healed and honoured … together we were stronger’.

This rainbow is a very powerful, personal tribute to every single member of the Emergency Department at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.

Consultants, porters, nurses, domestics, even the volunteers who gave their time at the height of the crisis – they’re all there, side by side. No hierarchy, no pecking order, just one team. A family, in fact.

Ever since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Emergency Department at the QEUH, along with every other area of the NHS, have been working under a level of pressure very few have ever experienced.

The effort they put in and the resilience they showed – keeping smiling and keeping supporting each other every day – was something that Leanne Kennedy and Karen Hughes, both Senior Charge Nurses and Emergency Nurse Practitioners in the department, wanted to make sure would never be forgotten.

“Myself and Karen wanted to do something to recognise the efforts that people were putting in when they came to work,” said Leanne.

“COVID has been the first big crisis that the department has had to deal with since the opening of the hospital and, once we’re long gone, we wanted to leave something as a permanent reminder of who they were and the amazing work they did.”

They knew they wanted to do something special, but the idea for the hands came from Karen’s sister.

“We were batting around some ideas of what we could do and I happened to mention it to my sister. She works in M&S, and she mentioned the rainbow of handprints that used to welcome people into the store. The idea came from there really.

“We tried to think of ways to do it, but eventually approached a sign company and asked them for help. They were happy to be involved and the company donated the sign for free, which we’ll always be grateful for.”

In July last year, the finished sign was put up in the corridor used by ambulance crews to bring patients into the department. Staff were thrilled, and Karen and Leanne were delighted to see their dream become reality – a special thank you to every member of the team.

“It’s wonderful to see everyone’s efforts recognised in this way,” Karen said. “When this crisis started we had no idea it would still be going nearly a year on. The way the team has dealt with it – the way they’re still delivering the very best care after all this time – is something I’ll always be proud of.

“At the beginning we all clapped every Thursday for our NHS. But even if we clapped every second, every day, I still don’t think we could do enough to say thank you to the amazing people who work here.”

Alan Whitelaw, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Clinical Director for Emergency Medicine at the QEUH, said: “All our staff are working extremely hard and face unprecedented pressure just now. Gestures like these, large and small, go a long way in helping raise morale and reminding us we’re all in this together.”

Denise Wilkinson, Lead Nurse at the Emergency Department, said: “This has been a really difficult time for our staff. They have endured long days, wearing hot and sweaty PPE, yet they have kept going and even now, after all this time, they are delivering a fantastic level of care.

“We have a lot of fairly newly qualified staff – how they have dealt with it has been phenomenal. In fact, I don’t know how everyone in the team managed to keep going and support each other through this. I’m so proud of them all.”

The banner in the Emergency Department may carry the names of the hundreds of staff who work there, but Leanne wanted to pay tribute to all staff across the NHS in Greater Glasgow and Clyde and beyond, who have played such an important part throughout the pandemic.

However, she had special mention for the emergency services who work day in, day out with the Emergency Department, and whose badges also appear on the banner.

Helping hands – hundreds of them – a fitting tribute to just one part of the NHS that is doing so much to keep us all safe.

Super Saturday at Louisa Jordan

Mass clinic vaccinates 5,000 staff at NHS Louisa Jordan

More than 5,000 health and social care staff were vaccinated at NHS Louisa Jordan today as part of a mass vaccination drive by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

The operation saw a team of 95 NHSGGC staff working in close collaboration with NHS Louisa Jordan staff to deliver up to 500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine per hour over the course of the day.

Located at the Scottish Events Campus (SEC), a total of 65 vaccine stations have been mobilised, utilising the large floor space at NHS Louisa Jordan to ensure a rapid turnaround in a safe environment. The first injection was administered at 8:45am, with the last vaccination targeted for 7:30pm.

Across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde an additional 2,350 staff are being vaccinated over the weekend at different sites.

The rapid rollout will help ensure a well-trained workforce is in place and processes are well developed to deliver the wider national vaccination deployment plan which will see 400,000 people across Scotland receive jags each week by the end of February.

In line with the national plan, once the vaccine has been offered to all eligible health and social staff within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Louisa Jordan will play a key role as a vaccination hub for the general public.

Members of the public will be informed when they are eligible to book an appointment for a vaccine.

Dr Linda De Caestecker, Director of Public Health for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “Today’s mass clinic at NHS Louisa Jordan is testament to the careful planning and professionalism of all the staff involved and I’d like to thank everyone who has made this possible.

“This will play a crucial role in preventing the harm caused by this virus and keeping our vital staff safe to care for patients across healthcare settings.

“While Saturday marks a significant milestone, much work is yet to be done. The rates of infection remain very high in this area and vaccination must work alongside other measures if we are to suppress the virus. Everyone must remember to follow the FACTS and to avoid social mixing in order to save as many lives as possible.”

Health Secretary, Jeane Freeman, said: “To have 5000 vaccinations taking place at NHS Louisa Jordan in a single day is testament to the hard work of all the staff at the hospital and I want to thank each and every one of them for their part in the roll-out of the biggest vaccination programme ever undertaken in Scotland.

“The vaccine offers us hope and as we vaccinate more and more people that hope becomes more real.

“On its own, it won’t be enough to win the race against this virus. Our testing programme is crucial. In addition, each one of us needs to follow the guidance, abide by the restrictions, wash our hands, wear face coverings and maintain 2m distance from others. If we all play our part to suppress the prevalence of the virus, then vaccination can do the job we need it to do.

“Doing all of this will protect us, protect the NHS and save lives.”