Queen Elizabeth University Hospital

The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) (Scottish Gaelic: Ospadal Oilthigh na Banrigh Ealasaid) is a 1,677-bed acute hospital located in Govan, in the south-west of Glasgow, Scotland. The hospital is built on the site of the former Southern General Hospital and opened at the end of April 2015. The hospital comprises a 1,109-bed adult hospital, a 256-bed children's hospital and two major Emergency Departments; one for adults and one for children. There is also an Immediate Assessment Unit for local GPs and out-of-hours services, to send patients directly, without having to be processed through the Emergency Department.[1] The retained buildings from the former Southern General Hospital include the Maternity Unit, the Institute of Neurological Sciences, the Langlands Unit for medicine of the elderly and the laboratory. The whole facility is operated by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, [2][3] and is one of the largest acute hospital campuses in Europe.[4][5]

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
The QEUH building as viewed in March 2021
Queen Elizabeth University Hospital is located in Glasgow council area
Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
Location within Glasgow
Geography
Location1345 Govan Road, Govan, Glasgow, Scotland
Coordinates55°51′44″N 04°20′28″W / 55.86222°N 4.34111°W / 55.86222; -4.34111
Organisation
Care systemNHS Scotland
TypeTeaching
Affiliated universityUniversity of Glasgow
Glasgow Caledonian University
University of the West of Scotland
Services
Emergency departmentYes (and Major Trauma)
Beds1,677
256 Children[1]
SpecialityGeneral
History
OpenedApril 2015
Links
WebsiteQueen Elizabeth University Hospital

While some parts of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital have their own distinct identity and dedicated specialist staff, such as the Royal Hospital for Children, each is completely integrated with linkages for patient transfer, diagnostic services, emergency care and even a rapid access lift from the emergency helicopter pad on the roof of the adult hospital. For example, the new children's hospital is not only linked to the adult hospital but also both the adult and children's hospitals are linked to the redeveloped maternity building and to the Neurosciences Institute.[6]

The hospital hosts services relocated from the Western Infirmary, the Victoria Infirmary including the Mansion House facility, some services from the Royal Infirmary and a range of inpatient services from Gartnavel General Hospital.[1] In addition, the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, previously based at Yorkhill, was moved to a new building adjoining the adult hospital and renamed the "Royal Hospital for Children".

History

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In 2008, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde submitted a business case to the Scottish Government[7] for a new acute hospital to replace facilities at the Western Infirmary and Victoria Infirmary, and to relocate the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow, to a new building adjoining the new adult hospital.[8] Designs were unveiled for the hospital campus in November 2009,[9] with public funding being approved.[10] The adult hospital, children's hospital and laboratory buildings were designed by Nightingale Associates,[11] with construction carried out by Multiplex, who previously built Wembley Stadium.[12]

At the time of construction the hospital was Scotland's largest ever publicly funded NHS construction project,[13] costing £842 million to build.[14] it was built on and around site of the old Southern General Hospital, with construction starting in early 2011. Originally to be called South Glasgow University Hospital,[15] it was granted the right to use the name "Queen Elizabeth University Hospital" by Queen Elizabeth II.[16][17] It was hoped the new hospital would be ready by 2014,[18] but medical services did not start to be transferred from other hospitals until April 2015[14] and was fully operational by summer 2016.[19]

A physical above ground link for patients and staff from the main building into the Maternity and Neurosciences Institute buildings was constructed, allowing most of the campus to be traversed without going outside. The main hospital facilities are also linked to the laboratory buildings via a tunnel and pneumatic tube system.[2][20]

The retained buildings from the former hospital, notably the Institute of Neurological Sciences, also started to receive external and internal refurbishment, with a cosmetic panel cladding being applied to the outside of the building in order to bring its appearance in-line with the new hospital buildings at a cost of circa £40 million.[21]

When the hospital opened its doors, locals nicknamed it the "Death Star" due to its star-shaped design, large size and the landing pad for aircraft on the roof.[22][23][24]

In February 2020, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde started legal proceedings against Multiplex, Capita Property & Infrastructure, and Currie & Brown for an estimated £73 million in losses and damages relating to technical issues at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Children.[25]

Services

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The Royal Hospital for Children building located within the hospital grounds
 
Southern exterior of the University of Glasgow Teaching and Learning Centre at the hospital

Adults' hospital

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The adult hospital - 60 metres (197 ft) in height, 14 storeys with four 'wings'[26] - features 1,109 patient rooms. Rooms within general wards have an external window view. Each room is equipped with private shower and toilet facilities in addition to entertainment such as television and radio. The first floor houses a 500-seat hot food restaurant and a separate cafe. The atrium features shops and banking machines and a lift system that automatically guides users to the lift that will take them to their destination most efficiently.[27] In addition to a canteen and coffee shop, the atrium in the adult hospital building also contains retail outlets including include: Marks & Spencer; WHSmith; Camden Food co; and The Soup & Juice Co. It is estimated that the hospital serves 41% of Scotland's population.[28]

Children's hospital

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The Royal Hospital for Children, while retaining a somewhat separate identity, is adjoined and integrated with the adult hospital. With 256 beds and five floors, it replaced the Royal Hospital for Sick Children located in Yorkhill, Glasgow.[29]

Maternity Unit

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The maternity unit, which was built in 1970 and has been retained from the Southern General Hospital,[30] is situated directly across from the children's hospital facilities.[31]

Institute of Neurological Sciences

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The Institute of Neurological Sciences (INS), which was built in 1972 and has been retained from the Southern General Hospital,[30] provides Neurosurgical, Neurological, Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuroradiological, Neuropathology and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery facilities for the West of Scotland.[30] The department has two buildings, connected by a two storey link bridge. Firstly the larger INS building, which contains critical care, 6 operating theatres, diagnostic imaging services and 4 inpatient wards, as well as the Clinical Research Facility (CRF). The second building is the Neurology Block, which contains an outpatient department, Clinical Neurophysiology, two inpatient wards and the West of Scotland Maxillofacial Prosthetics service. The Physically Disabled Rehabilitation Unit (PDRU) is connected to the Neurology Block and provides specialist Neurorehabilitation services to NHSGGC patients. Attached to the INS surgical building is The Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Unit for Scotland which provides a spinal injuries service to the whole of Scotland. This unit contains two wards and an outpatient/rehabilitation facility. [32] Approximately 60% of the INS services' workload is emergency care.[33]

Langlands Building

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The medicine for the elderly unit, which was built in 2001 and has been retained from the Southern General Hospital,[34] is housed in the Langlands Building at the southern end of the hospital campus and is linked to the rest of the hospital via the Institute of Neurological Sciences' link bridge connection with the QEUH.[35]

Laboratory

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The laboratory, which was built in 2012 and has been retained from the Southern General Hospital,[36] provides centralised laboratory services for the whole of Scotland.The building hosts medical laboratory space to support blood sciences, medical genetics, medical pathology and microbiology. It also houses the hospitals facilities management offices and staff. The mortuary is also based here and is located in the basement.[37] The laboratory is staffed by more than 800 people and also undertakes research.[36]

Transportation

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The campus features an "Arrival Square" which is located at the front entrance of the adult hospital and is intended to function as the hospital's transport interchange. With patient drop-off zones, access to bus services serving the city and its suburbs, a boardwalk connecting the adult and children's hospitals and a taxi stand.[20] Around 90 buses an hour service the facility.[38] 500 bicycle racks are provided for those cycling to the campus.[39]

The nearest railway station is Cardonald railway station and the nearest Glasgow subway station is Govan subway station.[40]

Automated guided vehicles

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Automated Guided Vehicles charging in the hospital's basement level

The adult, children and laboratory buildings within the hospital are equipped with a fleet of 26 automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to carry supplies, using dedicated lifts and a network of tunnels.[41]

The dedicated lifts that are used by the robots are separated for clean and dirty goods and the robots travel in non public corridors located in the basement.[42]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Queen Elizabeth University Hospital". healthcareimprovementscotland.org. Healthcare Improvement Scotland. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  2. ^ a b "NHSGGC : South Glasgow University Hospital". nhsggc.org.uk.
  3. ^ "NHSGGC : Directory by Department". nhsggc.org.uk.
  4. ^ McConnell, Ian (30 October 2012). "Scotshield wins hospital fire system contract". The Herald. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  5. ^ Nicoll, Vivienne (13 April 2015). "Revealed: the shops to open in Glasgow's new hospital". The Evening Times. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  6. ^ "NHSGGC : About the campus". nhsggc.org.uk.
  7. ^ "New South Glasgow Hospital, new Children's Hospital and new Laboratory Build Outline Business Case" (PDF). library.nhsggc.org.uk. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. February 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  8. ^ "Hospital to cost taxpayer £842m". news.bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 19 February 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  9. ^ "New £840m Glasgow super hospital design is unveiled". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 12 November 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  10. ^ "Scotland's £2bn NHS capital projects take shape". The Guardian. 5 January 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  11. ^ "Wembley touch for super hospital". BBC News. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  12. ^ "Inside Scotland's new £900million super-hospital - days before first patients arrive". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 19 April 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  13. ^ "Go-ahead for new south Glasgow 'super hospital'". bbc.co.uk/news. BBC News. 14 December 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  14. ^ a b "South Glasgow University Hospital campus is handed over". bbc.co.uk/news. BBC News. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  15. ^ "Names chosen for new £842m South Glasgow hospitals". bbc.co.uk/news. BBC News. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  16. ^ "Glasgow's newest hospital to be named after Queen Elizabeth". heraldscotland.com. The Herald. 3 July 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  17. ^ "New South Glasgow hospital named after Queen Elizabeth". bbc.co.uk/news. BBC News. 3 July 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  18. ^ "Super hospital delay 'the new Holyrood'". news.bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 25 November 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  19. ^ "Safety and cleanliness unannounced inspection". Healthcare Improvement Scotland. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  20. ^ a b "Health News" (PDF). NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. June 2013. p. 11. Retrieved 31 December 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  21. ^ "£40m modernisation announced for Institute of Neurological Sciences". Urban Realm. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  22. ^ Bradford, Eleanor (27 April 2015). "South Glasgow University Hospital welcomes first patients". BBC News. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  23. ^ "£842m 'Death Star' hospital opens doors to first patients", National Health Executive, 27 April 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  24. ^ "In-patients in move to new super hospital". Evening Times. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  25. ^ "Glasgow NHS claims £73m damages over hospital projects". The Construction Index. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  26. ^ "Glasgow South Adult Hospital". Emporis. Archived from the original on 27 August 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  27. ^ "NHSGGC : Overview". nhsggc.org.uk.
  28. ^ "Meet the TV stars who will show Victoria Infirmary's move to the new super hospital". eveningtimes.co.uk. Evening Times. 2 November 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  29. ^ "What does new hospital mean for Glasgow?". bbc.co.uk/news. BBC News. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  30. ^ a b c "Glasgow". Historic Hospitals. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  31. ^ "The Labour Suite, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital". Which?. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  32. ^ "The Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit". bascis.org.uk.
  33. ^ "Institute of Neurosciences". nhsggc.org.uk. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  34. ^ "Glasgow Carillion wins Scots' millions". Construction News. 26 August 1999. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  35. ^ "Queen Elizabeth University Hospital". Healthcare Improvement Scotland. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  36. ^ a b "New £90m lab opens at Southern General Hospital". BBC News. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  37. ^ "Laboratory and facilities management building". cyldewaterfront.com. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  38. ^ "Staff at Glasgow's new super-hospital are forced to rent homeowners' driveways to get a parking place". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 16 August 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  39. ^ "Cycling and Walking". nhsggc.org.uk. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  40. ^ "Maps and stations". Strathclyde Partnership for Transport. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  41. ^ "New hospital takes delivery of fleet of robot workers". The Herald. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  42. ^ "Robots ready to run at Glasgow hospital" (Press release). www.hefma.co.uk. 22 February 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
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