This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Golden Jubilee Hospital treats more patients
19/02/2003
The Golden Jubilee National Hospital at Clydebank has
exceeded its target for the number of procedures carried
out in the first six months following its purchase by
NHSScotland last June.
The figures show the number of procedures carried out at
the hospital between 1 July and 31 December 2002 was 2695
against a budgeted expectation of 1900.
Patients from Shetlands to the Borders have benefited
from the hospital being brought into the public sector.
Procedures performed include cardiac surgery,
cardiology, orthopaedics, general surgery, ENT (ear, nose
and throat) and ophthalmology. The hospital has also
undertaken endoscopy and dermatology clinics.
Ian McAdam, Chief Executive of the hospital, said:
"From a standing start this is an incredible achievement
for the staff and the hospital. We have taken great
pleasure in treating patients from all over Scotland. As we
build capacity, I believe we will far exceed our target of
5,000 procedures set for our first year as part of
NHSScotland."
Trevor Jones, Chief Executive of NHSScotland, said:
"This is very good news. I believe the Golden Jubilee is
doing an absolutely first class job. It has proved a
tremendous asset for the people of Scotland since it was
taken into public ownership in reducing numbers of patients
facing long waits. I am confident it will now go from
strength to strength."
As part of its expansion plans, the Golden Jubilee is
undergoing a number of changes.
Additional staff are being recruited for two new
state-of-the-art operating theatres which are due to open
in June and July his year. When both are up and running to
capacity, the number of orthopaedic operations carried out
at Clydebank will quadruple to 1200 annually, providing
further capacity to reduce waiting times across
Scotland.
The hospital's two paediatric intensive care beds -
which have been used almost exclusively to treat private
cardiac patients from overseas - will close and the
facilities released to benefit NHS patients. Six intensive
care nurses will be offered alternative posts at the
hospital or elsewhere in the NHS. Discussions are also
under way for the potential transfer of nurses to the Royal
Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill, Glasgow, where
their specialist skills can be used to the full.
Both hospitals are actively discussing the scope for
developing paediatric day cases at the Golden Jubilee for
the NHS. Private and non-NHSScotland patients currently
make up more than 95% of the Golden Jubilee's paediatric
workload.
UK guidance in the wake of the Bristol inquiry has led
to the concentration of services such as paediatric cardiac
surgery and intensive care on specialist sites to minimise
risk to children and maintain excellence of care.
"We greatly value all our staff. No-one will be
disadvantaged in any way. We plan to make maximum use of
the space left vacant for other developments for NHS
patients" Mr McAdam said.
A new endoscopy suite is also due to open at the
hospital later this year. Overall staff numbers at the
Golden Jubilee have risen by 80 since last June to 340.
Together with its associated hotel, it provides work for
420 people and is one of the largest employers in
Clydebank.
Patients have also given it a huge vote of confidence
since it joined NHSScotland. Surveys have shown more than
90 per cent of patients were satisfied and 70 per cent
delighted with their experience at Clydebank.
The Golden Jubilee National Hospital was acquired by
NHSScotland in June 2002 for £37.5m. It was previously
established as a private hospital by HCI (Scotland)
Ltd.