This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Minister decides way forward for Glasgow
30/09/2004
Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm today announced his
decision on the proposed changes to maternity services by
NHS Greater Glasgow.
The Minister said:
"I have been giving a great deal of consideration over
the summer to maternity services in Glasgow and have had a
series of visits and meetings with doctors, nurses and
midwives.
"I have been listening with very great care to the
various clinical arguments and to the large body of public
opinion which has expressed a view on this matter.
"As a result I am persuaded of the clinical case for
having a maternity unit alongside specialist paediatric
services. I recognise that the Queen Mothers and Yorkhill
provide an important national service for the whole of
Scotland and I am determined that such a service should and
will continue.
"At the same time I recognise the clinical arguments for
having a maternity unit on the same site as adult clinical
services, something that was recognised by Greater Glasgow
NHS Board.
"I have therefore concluded, as did many who responded
to the consultation, that the gold standard solution is a
triple co-location of paediatric, maternity and adult
clinical services.
"Following the Spending Review announcement yesterday, I
am able to make £100 million available so that Glasgow can
hasten the development of such a service, hopefully within
five years.
"I am also appointing an Advisory Group with strong
clinical representation from Glasgow and further afield as
well as public and user involvement.
"It will monitor plans for the co-location of
paediatric, maternity and adult clinical services, carry
out an option appraisal of possible sites and ensure that
there is no diminution in the quality of care available to
mothers and children up to the time that the new gold
standard service is up and running.
"I am confident that Greater Glasgow NHS Board will
co-operate wholeheartedly with this advisory group. If
there is any doubt, as Minister I have powers to direct the
Board. I am also confident that clinicians will co-operate
across the different maternity sites.
"If there are difficulties with staffing three units in
the intervening period, or if there are other developments
that are relevant to the continuing viability of three
units, the group will advise on how those issues should be
resolved without diminution in the quality of care.
"This investment comes on top of the £750 million the
Executive has already committed to modernising Glasgow's
hospitals.
"Glasgow deserves the best and we will deliver the
best.
"That requires everyone to work together. Not to look
back at the past and the planning blight which has stymied
improvements for decades. But to look ahead with all
parties co-operating and collaborating to build a modern
health service for the 21st century."
The advisory group will be chaired by Professor Andrew
Calder, head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the
University of Edinburgh. It will bring together the key
clinical advisors alongside patient and public
representatives.
The new single site development is expected tobe in
operation by 2010. Existing services will continue where
they are - unless there are unforeseen and immediate
pressing issues relating to safety of patients. The
advisory group will be expected to consider arrangmenets
for the transition to the new site.
The £100m is part of the Scottish Budget proposals
announced in Parliament yesterday.
Proposals for change in maternity services were
submitted by NHS Greater Glasgow in April this year. Its
overall strategy for modernising acute services in Glasgow
was approved by the Health Minster in August 2002.