Primary Care Chaplaincy Scotland -Sco50241

25/09/2025

On 4th October, local GP, Dr Gordon MacDonald and the trustee and chaplain team will be taking on Bridge Cross 120, in aid of registered charity Primary Care Chaplaincy Scotland (PCCS), in recognition of the approx 120 local people our charity supports each year with over 500 appointments.

Our route will take us from Nonna’s down the canal path to cross the Marina bridge and back up Southbank Road to cross the bridge on Cowgate.

Donations are gratefully received at https://www.justgiving.com/page/bridgecrossed120?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

Like a bridge over the troubled waters of life, chaplaincy helps patients journey from a place of dis-ease to a place of peace and wellbeing. We currently provide chaplaincy in partnership with 10 GP practices in East Dunbartonshire

20/09/2025

16/09/2025

It’s just over two weeks until our Bridge Cross 120, in aid of Primary Care Chaplaincy Scotland (PCCS). In recognition of the approx 120 people our charity supports each year our trustees and chaplains are “crossing the bridge” in Kirkintilloch on Saturday 4th October 120 times.

Our route will take us from Nonna’s down the canal path to cross the Marina bridge and back up Southbank Road to cross the bridge on Cowgate.

Like a bridge over the troubled waters of life, chaplaincy helps patients journey from a place of dis-ease to a place of peace and wellbeing. We currently provide chaplaincy in partnership with 10 GP practices in East Dunbartonshire

Help Euan Hutchinson raise money to support Primary Care Chaplaincy Scotland

28/08/2025

Primary Care Chaplaincy Scotland (PCCS) was launched in 2020 and grew out of 10 years' experience of delivering chaplaincy within General Practice in Scotland.

Like a bridge over the troubled waters of life, chaplaincy helps patients journey from a place of dis-ease to a place of peace and wellbeing.

We currently provide chaplaincy in partnership with 10 GP practices in East Dunbartonshire

We are “crossing the bridge” in Kirkintilloch on 4th October 120 times in recognition of the approx 120 people we support each year

https://www.justgiving.com/page/bridgecrossed120?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

01/07/2025

Our first newsletter!! Plans are to provide updates to supporters approximately 6 monthly on what’s happening through PCCS chaplaincy across East Dunbartonshire

23/11/2024

Wow what an incredible effort by Dr G…battled the wildest elements of Storm Bert this morning but nothing could stop him…10 km run and 40 km cycle around East Dunbartonshire completed in aid of PCCS. What an amazing achievement ⭐️⭐️

Thank you to those who provided invaluable support to Dr G today and many many thanks to all the people who have generously donated to the work of PCCS…a heartfelt thank you for supporting our small charity and it’s important work within our local community

Donations can still be made at:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/pccs

03/11/2024

Gordon MacDonald, a local GP in Kirkintilloch and the chair of registered charity Primary Care Chaplaincy Scotland (PCCS), together with support from Alan Caldwell, are undertaking an East Dunbartonshire (ED) bi-athlon cycle / run challenge across ED to our supported GP surgeries on 23rd November to raise much needed funds.

Donations will be gratefully received at https://www.justgiving.com/page/pccs?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fpccs&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share

Starting at Woodhead Medical Practice, Gordon is running to the Turret Medical Practice then onto Regent Gardens Medical Centre before running to Kenmure Medical Practice and then Lennoxtown Medical Practice (approx 11miles) after which Gordon will then be cycling to Kersland House Surgery in Milngavie (approx 9miles) before finishing with a short run to Ashfield House Surgery.

PCCS have been providing chaplaincy services for patients in General Practice for over 10 years but recently set up as a charity. They are based in East Dunbartonshire and continue to expand their invaluable services in ED. They provide appointments for patients, carers and staff who need emotional support and care when life is challenging. PCCS work best fits within the wider group of ‘talking therapies’ within the NHS. Please read more about what they are doing at primarycarechaplaincyscotland.org

14/08/2024

PCCS helps patients journey from a place of dis-ease to a place of peace and wellbeing.

07/07/2024

So what happens if you make an appointment with one of our chaplains?

Appointments are generous in time, lasting up to an hour in length.

Although no patient is made to feel that they have to use all this time, we find that most do appreciate this time in which to talk and reflect.

We don't set a fixed number of sessions but allow patients to rebook appointments as and when they feel it is helpful.

Most come more frequently initially and then appointments become less frequent. Some patients find that speaking once or twice is enough.

Some 'pop back in' occasionally, even over the course of years when things become difficult.

What happens in an appointment?

Patients come to the surgery and book in as all patients do.

The chaplain will call them into the chaplaincy room, welcome them and explain something of the service.

At times we conduct service evaluations, and this requires a small amount of paperwork.

The patient is them invited to introduce themselves more generally, and then discussion of whatever brings them to the appointment will begin.

The chaplain will listen, reflect, and ask a few questions for clarification and understanding.

Time may be taken to explore meaning and value in life, the significance of life events, or to provide spiritual direction. Sometimes prayer will be offered at the end of an appointment.

Further steps and the possibility of another appointment will be discussed.

07/07/2024

So you may be asking what happens when I meet up with one of the PCCS chaplains?

Well appointments are generous in time, lasting up to an hour in length.

Although no patient is made to feel that they have to use all this time, we find that most do appreciate this time in which to talk and reflect.

We don't set a fixed number of sessions but allow patients to rebook appointments as and when they feel it is helpful.

Most come more frequently initially and then appointments become less frequent. Some patients find that speaking once or twice is enough.

Some 'pop back in' occasionally, even over the course of years when things become difficult.

What happens in an appointment?

Patients come to the surgery and book in as all patients do. The chaplain will arrange to meet at your convenience, welcome them and explain something of the service.

At times we conduct service evaluations, and this requires a small amount of paperwork.

The patient is them invited to introduce themselves more generally, and then discussion of whatever brings them to the appointment will begin.

The chaplain will listen, reflect, and ask a few questions for clarification and understanding.

Time may be taken to explore meaning and value in life, the significance of life events, or to provide spiritual direction. Sometimes prayer will be offered at the end of an appointment.

Further steps and the possibility of another appointment will be discussed.

06/07/2024

We’d love to share with you a little bit about our Ethos.

Primary Care Chaplaincy Scotland exists for those of any faith or no faith, seeing spiritual care as distinct from religious care. Our ethos is whole person care. We believe people are integrated wholes, a body mind or body soul fusion. This inner part of our life affects the physical and vice versa.

We acknowledge that we each have certain innate emotional needs or "human givens". We discuss these issues with patients in terms of "deepest inner needs" such as the need for significance, security and self-esteem. We see these as spiritual needs that each of us have.

We therefore aim to help people search for meaning, value and purpose. This may involve a search for meaning (often in the midst of suffering), a search for the sacred or connection with the transcendent.

Over recent years we have noticed the effects of modern life on these deepest inner needs and wellbeing. We live in an increasingly consumerist society. The focus is on productivity, success, image, self-sufficiency and personal needs.

We believe that when these immediate needs are unmet or depended on, wellbeing and spirituality are affected. This is compounded by individuals' increasing isolation and reduced awareness of how to access care for their emotional and spiritual needs.

We see these issues affecting patients in many ways such as: loss of wellbeing, anxiety, depression or loneliness. Relationship issues, employment concerns and self-image are amongst other presentations that we see in primary care. Chaplaincy and spiritual direction have much to offer many of these concerns.

The aim of Primary Care Chaplaincy Scotland is to bring a new sense of wholeness and peace to each person. The context is that of compassionate presence and listening with generosity. Discerning signs of hope and spiritual direction are methods used by our chaplains along with practical and wellbeing advice.