About Us

Greenock Medical Aid Society (founded in 1798) is a voluntary organisation providing care for the elderly. As a registered charity we provide two care homes in Greenock with full nursing support, Bagatelle Home and Glenfield Home. The same high quality of care and of living is offered in each home. In association with River Clyde Homes (formerly Inverclyde Council) we also operate a sheltered housing complex at Bagatelle Court.

The Society

The Society has a constitution which is controlled by its Life Members who meet each year at the Annual General Meeting. An Executive Committee is elected at this meeting and this committee has the repsonsibility for developing policies, setting a budget, appointing a Senior Management Team and monitoring performance.

Members of the Executive Committee are appointed as Conveners who have oversight of specific areas of responsibility. In addition to the Chairman and Vice Chairman there are House Conveners (responsible for social events in each Home), Estate Conveners, Finance Convener, PR and Fundraising Convener, Therapy Convener and a Chaplain. All are volunteers who give freely of their time and talents.

Each Home has a House Committee of 15 members who welcome new residents, visit residents in Hospital, organise social activities and act, when requested, as advocates for any residents who desire assistance.

History of the Society

Greenock Medical Aid Society, as it exists today, was constituted through a merger of two organisations with similar objectives in the field of charitable work. The Destitute Sick Society was established in 1798 and in 1917 it merged with the Greenock Medical Aid Society founded in 1876, assuming the latter's title.

Glenfield home was purchased in 1926 to replace a smaller home providing residential and nursing care. Since then it has been upgraded and extended on a number of occasions. The current capacity of Glenfield is 33 residents.

Bagatelle was purchased in 1989 and after major renovation was opened in 1990 providing nursing care for 32 residents. With the latest extension, which opened in late 2004, and internal changes the capacity of Bagatelle is 41.

In 1997, through an agreement with Inverclyde Council, Bagatelle Court was built to provide 28 high amenity flats for the elderly.

There is no discrimination on admission to either Home by reason of religion or financial position. Applications for admission are considered from anyone resident in the west of Scotland or from others who have had a past connection with this geographical area. Most of the rooms are occupied on a permanent basis, but, when the situation permits, respite care for elderly relatives is offered to families who, for most of the year, look after a housebound relative.

Management of the affairs of the Society is in the hands of an Executive Committee elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.

The management of the Society is the responsibility of the Chief Executive, Mr. Charles Young, who oversees and co-ordinates the work and strategic development of the Society. He is assisted by the Director of Finance, Mr T G Neill CA CTA, who has delegated responsibility for the financial affairs of the Society.

Two Home Managers, Mrs Anne Graham RGN, Home Manager for Bagatelle and Mrs Margaret Harkins RGN, Home Manager for Glenfield, are responsible for the personal and nursing care of the residents, therapy services, nutrition and housekeeping at each Home.

Fully qualified nursing staff are on duty 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. In addition there are Care staff, Catering staff, Laundry and Housekeeping staff and an Administration office.

In all the Society employs over 125 staff at Glenfield and Bagatelle to provide full time cover for the residents of both Homes.

At Bagatelle Court a Care Officer is on duty from 9.00am to 4.00pm. Out of these hours support is provided by Bield Response 24. Where required the Social Work Department of the Council provides a wide range of support services.

Philosophy of Care

• To provide a high standard of care and an improved quality of life for each incoming resident.
• To promote independence as far as possible and to give support as, and when, it is required.
• To encourage hobbies and outside interests for those who do not have full independence supported by activities arranged with the Diversional Therapists.
• To ensure each resident is treated as an individual with dignity and respect at all times.
• To encourage the active involvement of family and friends and to give encouragement and support where it is needed.
• To help every resident maintain a positive attitude to the future and, in doing so, enhance the quality of his/her life.

Life Membership

All members of the public who wish to take an interest in the work of the Society can apply for Life Membership which costs £25. The Committee Members of the Society give generously and voluntarily of their time and business skills and, as a result, administrative costs are kept to a minimum. Audited accounts are published and circulated to members at the Annual General Meeting. You are invited to apply for Life Membership of the Society, download the form by clicking the link below.

Life Membership Application Form

Our Staff

The day to day running of each Home is the responsibility of the Home Manager who, with the support of an Assistant Home Manager, looks after all nursing care, catering, housekeeping and laundry needs of the residents. 23 qualified nurses, 3 Diversional Therapists and 100 other staff are employed providing care 24 hours/day, seven days per week.

Staff Development is seen as important facet of the Society’s ethos. The nursing staff all hold professional qualifications. Care Assistants and others are encouraged to obtain Scottish Vocational Qualifications, the Society meeting the costs of the training with the staff volunteering to give of their own time. In addition, there is an on-going programme of short courses which are attended by all staff. The Society is indebted to James Watt College for their support, without which the Society would not be in a position to ensure staff development had such a priority.

In 2003 the Society won the Learning Employer of the Year Award in a national competition organised by LearnDirect Scotland. In 2005, the Society won 'the Best Business Serving the Community' section of the Bees Knees award organised by Greenock Chamber of Commerce.

The Executive Committee and Members of the Society greatly appreciate the support which is provided by Inverclyde Council and the staff of the James Watt College in all our work.

Fundraising and Annual Appeal

The Society embarked on a major extension at Bagatelle in 2003, the cost of which was in the region of £1.4 million. The East Wing extension to Bagatelle was completed in December 2005 and is operating very efficiently with an excellent standard of resident accommodation.

A wide range of minor work projects are currently underway at Bagatelle and Glenfield with the aim of further improving services and facilites for residents. Prime examples of current minor works projects at Bagatelle and Glenfield are:

1. Replacement of the outdated boiler control system serving the hot water and heating systems at Bagatelle. 

          Estimated cost is £8,500.

    2.  Replacement of the outdated boiler control system serving the hot water and heating 

          sytems at Glenfield.                                                                                                                   

          Estimated cost £14,500.

    3.  Creation of a Celebration Grove, a wooded pathed walkway in the grounds of Bagatelle,  

          for the benefit of residents and their family and visitors to enjoy.                                

          Estimated cost £8,000.

In previous years Life Members and other friends of the Society have been very generous with their financial support and it is hoped that this will continue. All donations, whether large or small, count and will be enhanced by the completion of the Gift Aid Form which can be downloaded using the link below. Please give us your support.

Gift Aid Form