How You Can Support the Vale of Leven Hospital This Winter – And Help Keep Our Community Healthy
This winter, it’s even more important for everyone in the community to think ‘Right Care, Right Place’ when it comes to their health.
The Vale of Leven Hospital is a vital part of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s healthcare network, providing a wide range of services to the local community. From maternity care and diagnostic imaging to renal dialysis, cancer treatment, and surgical procedures, the hospital delivers essential care every day.
However, not every treatment can happen at one hospital. Our services across Greater Glasgow and Clyde are structured to ensure patients receive the right care, in the right place, whether that’s at the Vale, in another hospital, within the community, or even in your own home.
This winter, you can help your local hospital by only coming to the Vale of Leven when you have a scheduled appointment or referral.
‘Right Care, Right Place’ means that if you or someone you know is feeling unwell, the first step should be to try to treat minor illnesses and injuries from home.
Especially during winter, staying home can help stop the spread of common illnesses within the community. That’s why we also recommend having common over-the-counter medications, such as paracetamol and cough medicine, readily available.
You can find information on keeping yourself well and treating minor illnesses and injuries via the NHS Inform website or by downloading the NHS 24 app.
If you don’t think your illness or injury can be treated at home, your next step is to seek treatment within the community through your Primary Care services. This includes your local pharmacy, dentist, optician, or GP. These services can support many conditions. Visiting your local pharmacy for many services also won’t require an appointment.
If your illness or injury is urgent, or you’re just not sure, call NHS 24 on 111. They can make sure you get the help you need.
When you visit your local pharmacy, dentist, optician, GP, or call NHS 24 on 111, they may schedule an appointment or refer you to attend the Vale of Leven Hospital. This means you’ll be seen by the right service and can avoid any unnecessary wait or delay to your treatment.
If you do attend the Vale of Leven Hospital directly, you may be redirected to an alternative service that could have been accessed sooner by visiting your local pharmacy, dentist, optician, GP, or calling NHS 24 on 111 in the first instance.
Iona Scott, Interim Clyde Sector Director, explains more about why ‘Right Care, Right Place’ is so important for you and the community.
“We want the community to access services at the Vale of Leven Hospital by following the correct pathways,” she said. “This means contacting your local pharmacy, GP, dentist, optician, or calling NHS 24 on 111.
“If we do not follow these correct pathways, it puts pressure on local staff and services, who are supporting your fellow community members who have appointments and have followed the correct process.
“We continue to ask the community to think ‘Right care, Right place’. It’s expected that all NHS services will be put under pressure this winter, as is the case every year around this time.
“Your help can make a huge difference.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing an emergency or a life-threatening illness or injury, call 999 or go directly to the nearest A&E department. From the Vale, the nearest A&E is at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.
Jim Moohan, pictured left, Chair of Hospitalwatch group, said: “It is vitally important that the community continues to follow the pathway to the Vale of Leven Hospital. This can be done by contacting your GP, pharmacy, dentist, optician, or NHS 24 on 111.
Meanwhile, the Health Board has announced that the A&E department at the Royal Hospital for Children is currently experiencing very high demand, with seasonal illnesses adding extra pressure. This means some families may face longer waiting times than expected, and we recognise how stressful this can be when your child is unwell. We are sorry for any worry or distress this may cause. If your child is very ill or you believe their condition is serious, please attend A&E at the RHC or call 999 immediately. For other situations, there may be more appropriate alternatives to A&E. To help parents and carers make informed decisions, NHSGGC has shared important resources that explain where to go for the right care. These resources can guide you on whether A&E is necessary or if another service can help more quickly. Click here to access resources to help you decide the best action for your child: https://www.nhsggc.scot/royal-hospital-for-children…/
