Listen
Opening of new mental health hospital
07/04/2008
A new state-of-the-art mental health hospital was officially opened today.
At a special ceremony at the new £19 million Gartnavel Royal Hospital in Glasgow, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon met with staff and patients before unveiling a commemorative plaque and officially declaring the hospital open.
Ms Sturgeon said:
"Improving the mental health and well being of Scotland's population is a priority for the Scottish Government. We are committed to an ambitious improvement programme around prevention, care and recovery to drive forward further change and improvement both nationally and locally.
"As an example of this commitment, I am delighted to officially open the new Gartnavel Royal Hospital, a brand new, state-of-the-art facility that will ensure people will have access to the highest quality mental health care, services and support for years to come. As the most innovative facility of its kind in the UK, this new facility will allow individuals to be cared for in a bright, modern setting which will help enormously to aid and sustain their recovery."
The new Gartnavel Royal Hospital has six wards, three adult, two elderly and one intensive psychiatric care unit. Facilities include a family friendly room for service users with children as well as a community café and patient gym
Gartnavel Royal Hospital can trace its roots back to the former Glasgow "Lunatic Asylum" which opened in 1814 on a site now covered by Buchanan Bus Station.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's Chairman Andrew Robertson said:
"The development of the new Gartnavel Royal Hospital is part of a much wider plan to improve and modernise mental health facilities and services across Greater Glasgow and Clyde. I am delighted to see that the hospital has improved the environment for both patients and staff. Much of the success of the new Gartnavel Royal Hospital is due to the dedication, expertise and commitment of its staff."
Anne Hawkins, Director of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's Mental Health Partnership, explained:
"The new Gartnavel Royal Hospital is one of the most modern and innovative mental health hospitals in the UK. The building has created a bright modern enviroement which will aid the recovery of patients and provide and attractive working enviroment for staff. This purpose-built facility provides comfort, dignity and privacy for people who use our service as well as breaking down barriers and removing some of the stigma associated with mental health hospitals.
"Patients and their families have been involved in shaping the layout and design of the building right from the beginning and staff also visited mental health hospitals in other parts of the UK. Through listening to patients and learning from the experience elsewhere a revolutionary new hospital fit for the 21st century and beyond has been created."
Jenny Graydon, Chief Executive, Glasgow Association for Mental Health (GAMH) said:
"A modern mental health system needs a balance of community and hospital services. The right hospital environment can play an important part in helping people on their journey to recovery. We welcome the commitment shown by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to high quality inpatient services. The new Gartnavel Royal Hospital is the latest example of this."