This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Modernisation plan for Glasgow hospitals
12/08/2002
A £700 million modernisation plan for Glasgow hospitals
has been given the go-ahead.
The Greater Glasgow Acute Services Review will
mean investment in the five sites across the city at
the Southern General, Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow Royal
Infirmary, Gartnavel General and Stobhill Hospital.
The new strategy will see:
- In-patient services provided at a re-developed
Glasgow Royal, Gartnavel General and a major new
development at the Southern General
- Substantial investment and development of two new
Ambulatory Care Hospitals at Victoria Infirmary and
Stobhill Hospital. Both sites will have £60 million of
investment in upgrading and modernisation. This will
mean patients will still be able to access 85 per cent
of acute services currently available
- Two full Accident and Emergency units provided at
Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Southern General.
Trauma and orthopaedic in-patient services will also be
provided from these two hospitals
- Three in-patient sites will provide acute receiving
services at Glasgow Royal, Southern General and
Gartnavel
- Orthopaedic out-patient, day case services and
Minor Injury Units will be provided at all five
sites
- Paediatric A&E and emergency services will be
provided from the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at
Yorkhill
Health Minister Malcom Chisholm also welcomed the
Board's proposal that Audit Scotland would undertake a
'governance' role in respect of the implementation of the
acute services plan. A remit is currently being finalised
between the two organisations.
Mr Chisholm said:
"This has been a long and extensive process taking many
views from people across Glasgow. In those three years
there has been a range of views put forward during the
consultation on the shape of acute services in Glasgow. But
the common strand running through the consultation is that
maintaining the status quo is not an option. It is time to
move on to provide high quality, modern healthcare for
patients in Glasgow.
"That is why after very careful consideration, I have
given my approval to NHS Greater Glasgow's proposals for
the modernisation of acute services across the City. It is
now up to the NHS Board and Trusts to turn these
far-reaching proposals into reality for the benefit of all
Glaswegians.
"It is time to move on the from the outdated buildings
which are unsuitable for modern healthcare. This £700
million investment plan means Glasgow can provide 21st
century healthcare in 21st century buildings.
"Present inpatient sites are unable to provide one
stop/rapid diagnosis and treatment for the large number of
patients that are treated in Glasgow hospitals. It also
means that patients are required to move around sites and
different buildings. This leads to a loss of continuity and
difficulties in transferring information like lab results
and x-rays between sites.
"And while all this will not happen overnight I believe
over the next 10 years patients in Glasgow will receive
quality healthcare, access to appropriate specialists
across Glasgow in modern buildings.
"I realise that there are very strong views and emotions
around hospital provision across Glasgow. We want to
reassure the Glasgow public that there will still be five
hospital sites in Glasgow with massive new investment in
each site. And in the new ambulatory care hospitals 85 per
cent of the services that are currently provided will
continue to be provided.
"I want to reassure patients that there will be a
constant review process to ensure that patient needs come
first. On a yearly basis, Audit Scotland will provide an
independent overview and continue to monitor in-patient
activity. Foremost in all of this is to meet patient needs
in Glasgow.
"Another important but perhaps forgotten aspect about
the review is Glasgow's role in teaching and research and
its links with universities. These modernisation proposals
will send out a strong signal to prospective staff that
Glasgow is forward thinking in the way it plans and
delivers healthcare."