NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde service reforms

Health Secretary Shona Robison has agreed to NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde’s proposals to transfer inpatient and day case paediatrics from Ward 15 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow

The Scottish Government has agreed on the strict condition that local community paediatric care provision is maintained and continually improved. This will ensure that communities continue to access the majority of paediatric services locally, with more serious conditions treated at the state of the art Royal Hospital for Children, in line with the national clinical guidelines.

Ms Robison also rejected proposals to close Lightburn Hospital and redesign rehabilitation services for the elderly in North East Glasgow. The Government has asked NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to work in partnership with Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership and the local community to further develop and improve health and social care services in the East End of Glasgow before relocating any existing services.  

Ms Robison said:

“My priority is to ensure that patient safety is maintained and this will remain at the heart of every decision on redesigning services. The paediatric proposals that NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde have put forward, backed by overwhelming clinical support, have persuaded me that this new model of local paediatric services is in the best interests of children and will ensure that the majority of patient cases will continue to be seen and treated locally.

“I know the service many families have received from Ward 15 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital has been highly valued, which is why I have approved these proposals on two conditions – that the health board must maintain and continue to improve community based paediatric services and maximise local provision, and that they must work directly with families from the Paisley area on specific, individual treatment/service access plans. These provisions will ensure that there is a full understanding of what services and support will be available to local families and from where.

“While I fully accept that healthcare services cannot be static and that reform is necessary, I believe the proposed relocation of rehabilitation services should not go ahead as plans to improve health and social care services in the East End are not yet fully developed. It is important that new services are in place before changes are made to the current provision especially since the facility serves some of the most deprived communities in Glasgow.

“The next step for the Board and its planning partners to develop plans for a Health and Social Care Hub in East Glasgow, in full consultation with local stakeholders. This will be an important move forward in building community confidence about how the transition could be made from the current model to the replacement hub and community-based services.”