About Huntington's Disease (HD)

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a complex neurological condition with symptoms that typically begin to develop between the ages of 30 and 50.

In around 5-10% of cases HD symptoms develop before the age of 20 - this is known as Juvenile Huntington’s disease.

HD is hereditary, meaning it impacts upon entire families over generations rather than on individuals alone. Each child of a person with HD has a 50% chance of inheriting the condition.

As HD progresses it can affect a person’s:

• Movement (or motor skills): People with HD can suffer from repetitive involuntary movements resulting in mobility, balance and coordination problems as well as difficulties with speech and swallowing.
• Thinking processes (or cognition): People with HD can develop a type of early onset dementia, which affects their ability to process information, make decisions, solve problems, plan and organise.
• Mental health: People with HD can also experience a decline in mental health. Depression, anxiety, irritability, obsessive pre-occupations and apathy are amongst the most common mental health problems experienced. Psychosis may also occur.

Symptoms generally progress slowly over a long period time. Those impacted may experience gradual loss of independence and require increasing care and support. Most people with the condition will eventually require 24 hour care.

A well coordinated multi-disciplinary approach to the care and support of people living with Huntington's disease is essential.

The National Care Framework for Huntington’s Disease

The Scottish Huntington’s Association has published a National Care Framework which outlines the care and support that HD families should be entitled to receive throughout the country.

The National Care Framework is funded and supported by the Scottish Government and backed by all parties in the Scottish Parliament. It was developed by a multi-disciplinary expert group and has been supported and endorsed by the National Advisory Committee for Neurological Conditions, NHS Boards, Health and Social Care Partnerships, professional bodies, HD family members, academics and national and international third sector partners.

The Framework seeks to ensure that the care and support provided to individuals and their families living with Huntington’s disease takes account of their specific health & social care needs throughout their experience.

The National Care Framework for HD can be viewed at care.hdscotland.org

Greater Glasgow & Clyde Contact Information 

HD Specialists ( best first port of call)
Sally Woolvine (Senior HD Specialist)
Jessica Muscatt (HD Specialist)
Claudia Lang (HD Specialist)
Gillian Blair (HD Specialist)
Unit 2A
David Dale Business Centre
159 Broad Street
Glasgow
G40 2QR
0141 556 4100 / 0141 556 2136
[email protected]

HD Clinical Lead
Dr Elizabeth Lightbody
Consultant Psychiatrist
Leverndale Hospital
510 Crookston Road
Glasgow
G53 7TU
0141 556 4100

Senior Specialist Youth Advisor
Kirsten Walker
0141 5562136
07983 724201
[email protected]

Financial Wellbeing Officer
Melissa Higgins
Financial Wellbeing Officer
07710 391621
[email protected]

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Smokefree Services are responsible for a wide range of tobacco projects aimed at reducing the damage from tobacco to people in and around Greater Glasgow and Clyde

The Healthcare Chaplain for Leverndale Hospital, including the Mother and Baby Unit, can be contacted on 0141 211 6695.  The Chaplain’s Office is in the Hotel Services Building.

The Chaplaincy Service delivers spiritual and religious care to all people.  Spiritual care addresses the fundamental human need to have a sense of peace, security and hope particularly in the context of injury, illness or loss.  Healthcare Chaplains do this by being attentive to the patient’s story, looking for sources of strength and resilience, valuing the person and what is most important to them. Religious care can be a crucial aspect of this.  Healthcare Chaplains work with other NHS staff to ensure that these needs are met and, where appropriate, in partnership with local faith and belief groups.

Please visit our web page for more information on the Spiritual Care and Healthcare Chaplaincy Service.

If you have a general  enquiry you can email us on [email protected] and our patient leaflet can be accessed here NHSGGC Spiritual Care Team Patient Leaflet 2019.

An NHS Healthcare Chaplain is always on-call and ward staff can arrange for them to be paged.  A Roman Catholic Priest is also available at all times.