NHS Golden Jubilee Newsletter - Autumn 2025
NHS Golden Jubilee welcomes stakeholders to Annual Review 2025
We warmly invite stakeholders and members of the public to attend our Annual Review on Monday 3 November 2025, where the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP, and Scottish Government colleagues will reflect on our organisational performance and share future plans.
The public session will take place from 2.15pm–3.15pm, and attendees can join in person at the Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel or online.
The event will feature a presentation from NHS Golden Jubilee’s Executive Team, highlighting key achievements and challenges from the past year, followed by a live question and answer session.
To attend, please complete the short registration form by Friday 24 October 2025. The form also allows attendees to:
- Share any accessibility or communication requirements
- Submit questions in advance (all unanswered questions will receive a written response within 4 weeks)
NHS Golden Jubilee leads the way with next-generation pacemaker
Patients across Scotland are set to benefit from a new leadless pacemaker now being implanted at NHS Golden Jubilee. Around 10 times smaller than traditional devices, the AVEIR VR pacemaker sits entirely within the heart, reducing the risk of infection and lead-related complications.
The device offers a longer battery life, up to 25 years, and can be paired with a second leadless device in the atrium, marking a major step forward in cardiac care.
Alistair McGowan, 42, was among the first to receive the device after complications with a previous pacemaker. “It’s night and day compared to what I had before. I feel back to normal and ready to get active again.”
Medical Director, Mark MacGregor said: “This is a great example of how innovation helps people return to full and active lives with confidence.”
NHS Golden Jubilee marks 23 years of national impact
This year we celebrated 23 years of delivering high-quality care, innovation and research as a national asset for NHS Scotland.
Now one of the UK’s leading heart and lung centres, our organisation has performed over 1 million procedures since 2002, including nearly 120,000 in the past year alone. These include orthopaedics, ophthalmology, diagnostics, and heart and lung surgery, alongside 29 heart transplants.
Recent milestones include:
- World-first supersaturated oxygen therapy
- Over 3,000 MAKO robotic surgeries
- Groundbreaking research with Glasgow and Strathclyde universities
- 100% compliance with the 31-day lung cancer treatment target
New CT scanner boosts diagnostic capacity at NHS Golden Jubilee
We have expanded our diagnostic imaging services with the installation of a third cardiac CT scanner, enabling an additional 5,000 patients to be scanned each year.
Using advanced single heartbeat scan technology, the new scanner will improve access to life-saving diagnostics, reduce waiting times, and support the hospital’s role as a national centre for cardiac care and innovation.
Divisional Director of Operations, Christine Divers said: “This investment enhances patient care by delivering faster, higher-quality imaging and supporting national efforts to reduce waiting times.”
Jack Johnstone, 78, one of the first patients to benefit, said: “The scan was quick and straightforward. When you’re anxious, being seen quickly makes all the difference.”
Organ Donation Week: Sharing stories, saving lives
As part of this year’s Organ and Tissue Donation Week (22–28 September), we proudly supported the Scottish Government’s campaign, ‘Don’t leave your loved ones in doubt’, with a week of powerful storytelling and awareness-raising activity.
Across our social media channels and internal platforms, we shared:
- Inspiring patient stories from transplant recipients Sandra Williamson and Lucy Smith
- Expert insights from our clinical teams
- Press coverage highlighting the life-changing impact of organ donation
- Staff engagement through internal communications and SharePoint features
This year’s campaign also marked 30 years of the NHS Organ Donor Register, encouraging everyone to make their donation decision known and speak to their families.
Sandra’s Story: From transplant to Ben Nevis
After losing her mum and three brothers to cardiomyopathy, Sandra Williamson received a life-saving heart transplant at NHS Golden Jubilee. Now, she’s raising awareness by taking on new challenges, including a future climb up Ben Nevis.
“It’s more than just a group, it’s a family. Every time I return, it feels like I’m coming home.”
Read more
Lucy’s Story: A new heart and a new calling
At just 23, Lucy Smith underwent a heart transplant at our hospital. Now, she’s planning a career in nursing, inspired by the care she received.
“Organ donation saved my life. I’m eternally grateful to my donor and their family.”
Chief Executive Carolynne O’Connor said: “Organ Donation Week is a time to reflect on the life-changing impact of donation and the importance of sharing your decision with loved ones. Behind every transplant is a story of hope.”
Innovation in Stroke Care: CfSD leads national rollout of life-saving ECG patch monitors
The Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD), based at NHS Golden Jubilee, is leading a major innovation to improve outcomes for stroke patients across Scotland.
Thanks to £1.9 million in Scottish Government funding, Ambulatory ECG patch monitors will be deployed to around 8,000 patients annually. These compact, water-resistant devices are four times more effective at detecting atrial fibrillation, a leading cause of stroke, than traditional methods.
By enabling faster, more accurate diagnosis and treatment, the rollout is expected to:
- Prevent nearly 700 secondary strokes and over 300 deaths in five years
- Save the NHS £14.6 million
- Free up the equivalent of 15.7 full-time cardiac physiologists
The initiative is being delivered through the Accelerated National Innovation Adoption (ANIA) pathway, part of the Scottish Government’s NHS renewal strategy.
Katie Cuthbertson, National Director for CfSD, said: “This is innovation with impact, transforming lives, improving outcomes, and supporting the NHS to deliver smarter, faster care.”
NHS Scotland Academy: Advancing ultrasound training
As part of the NHS Scotland Academy’s commitment to education and innovation, a series of Ultrasound Masterclasses have been taking place at NHS Golden Jubilee, welcoming learners from across the country.
These expert-led sessions combined clinical insight with hands-on training, covering:
- Ultrasound of Soft Tissue Masses
Focused on haematoma identification, sarcoma management, and scanning techniques. - Renal Transplant Ultrasound
Covered clinical presentation, Doppler optimisation, PI/RI, and practical scanning with transplant patients. - Ultrasound of the Shoulder
Explored rotator cuff tear management, correlation with imaging, and hands-on scanning.
Masterclasses are continuing to run throughout the rest of 2025, with many fully booked with learners keen to take advantage of this unique experience.
Find out more about the National Ultrasound Training Programme
News Archive
Please browse through our Academy, CfSD and Hotel Press releases.
