 The move is designed to improve services |
Proposals to close two Glasgow hospitals have been put forward to health officials as part of a major review of services. The Greater Glasgow NHS Board is reviewing recommendations from an independent working group and will make a decision at a board meeting on 21 October.
The plans being looked at include the transfering of maternity services from the Queen Mother's Hospital to the Southern General Hospital to consolidate maternity services in the city.
The group also suggested the board consider the long term relocation of the Yorkhill Sick Children's Hospital in the west end to the south side.
Consultation on the board's decision will run for three months until the end of January 2004.
NHS Greater Glasgow chairman, Professor Sir John Arbuthnott, said: "I wish to thank everyone who has taken the trouble to present submissions and assure them that we will give them our deepest and sincerest consideration."
The board said that the move to a single site was essential to secure long-term resources and staffing for services.
But Scotland's largest health care union is calling for the review of maternity services to be extended across the country.
Plans 'flawed'
"The options announced today by Greater Glasgow Health Board are flawed," said Jim Devine, Unison's Scottish organiser for health.
"Decisions relating to maternity services are being taken in near isolation, on a board by board basis.
"Consequently, Argyll and Clyde are proposing to centralise maternity services in Paisley, whilst Glasgow, may well centralise their services, probably at the Southern General Hospital, merely 10 minutes away from Paisley.
"These decisions should not be taken in isolation by individual boards."
Nationalist MSP Sandra White condemned the closure proposals for the Queen Mother's and warned that lives would be put at risk.
The Glasgow list MSP said: ""Most people realise travelling from north to south through the Clyde Tunnel can be almost impossible and if you have a distressed pregnant woman attempting to get to the Southern General from the west or north of the city this could be a life threatening situation."
She also attacked any planned closure of Yorkhill.
"I have been calling for the retention of Yorkhill for years, but it is clear that today's decision recommends long term relocation to the Southern General which could mean that my fears for Yorkhill have been realised."
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