Bob Doris MSP - Doris pays tribute to 'Pioneering' hospital

Doris pays tribute to 'Pioneering' hospital

Saturday, 16 January 2010

Glasgow’s Queen Mother's Hospital closed its doors this week (Wed13 Jan) as part of the massive investment and reorganisation of NHS services in the city. Expectant Mums will be heading for the newly refurbished £28 million Southern General Maternity Unit. Professor Andrew Calder, who has been a leading light in the reform of maternity services in Scotland has suggested keeping the 'Queen Mother’s' name at the SGH by incorporating it into the name of the new unit. So far the health board have refused claiming that it would cause confusion, but Glasgow SNP MSP Bob Doris has led calls at the Scottish Parliament to support Prof Calder’s suggestion.

"The Queen Mother's may have closed its doors on the Yorkhill site but its legacy will live on. I see no reason why the name cannot be preserved at the expanded Southern General unit. That would be a fitting tribute to all who made the Queen Mum's such a success over 46 years.

“I have written to both the Chief Executive of Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board and also the Health Secretary to push for the name to be preserved. This is ultimately a health board decision but I think it may not have been entirely apparent to them just how much affection the people of Glasgow had for the Queen Mum's.

Mr Doris has lodged a motion at the Scottish Parliament and has already attracted cross party support. He added: "I think the health board will hear me out on this one, once they see how much political and public support there is. The hospital was renowned internationally both as a teaching hospital and for medical technology, not least the development of ultrasound. The building may have gone, but I don’t think the institution needs to disappear completely. The new unit at SGH will provide 21st century healthcare, but I can’t honestly see the harm in keeping the old name."

Note:

Bob Doris's motion:

S3M-05529 Bob Doris (Glasgow) (Scottish National Party):
Applauding an Era, Maintaining the Link— That the Parliament acknowledges the outstanding services provided by the Queen Mother’s Hospital in Glasgow over the last 46 years and the dedication and professionalism of its doctors, nurses and midwives; appreciates the suggestion by Professor Andrew Calder, who led plans to bring maternity, paediatric and adult hospital services together in Glasgow, that “Queen Mother’s” should be retained in some form in the title of the new maternity unit at the Southern General Hospital as a link to the proud record of this pioneering hospital; looks forward to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children currently at Yorkhill being co-located with the new Southern General unit in 2015 when it moves to that site; commends the Evening Times and all those involved in the campaign to have these new facilities co-located, and looks forward to the tradition of excellence and innovation established at the Queen Mother’s Hospital continuing at the new facility for many years to come.

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