27.04.15
£842m ‘Death Star’ hospital opens doors to first patients
One of Europe’s biggest and most advanced critical care hospitals has opened its doors to its first patients in Glasgow today.
The £842m South Glasgow University Hospital (SGUH) has been nicknamed the ‘Death Star’ by locals because of its imposing 14-storey star-shaped design, topped by a landing pad for aircraft.
The final cost of the project is reported to be closer to £1bn due to the additional costs of medical equipment. The project was funded by the Scottish government.
The complex is made up of two hospitals. The adult acute SGUH will see patients and staff move in a phased timetable with the majority of adult acute services being in place at the new hospital by the end of May. The new Royal Hospital for Sick Children (RHSC) will see staff and patients move in June but today the impressive new building welcomed the first outpatients.
Robert Calderwood, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde chief executive, said: “The new SGUH and new RHSC have been a long time in the planning and construction, and I am delighted that they are now complete and the first outpatients are being seen today.
“The completion of this Scottish Government funded project has been a major accomplishment and is testament to every single individual who has worked on this project since the blueprints were first drawn up.
“It is now all about the patients and we hope they are as pleased with the new hospitals as we are. While the migration of all services will be phased over the next two months when both hospitals are fully operational they will revolutionise healthcare for patients.”
Scottish health secretary Shona Robison said: “This is a significant day for NHS Scotland, and in particular for NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde. Building Scotland’s largest ever hospital has been a long and complex challenge, so bringing this project in on time and on budget is a real achievement in itself.
“Today, all that work finally comes to fruition as we welcome the first patients for their appointments. These are state-of-the-art facilities, at the forefront of the latest advances in healthcare, and will transform the care patients receive from their NHS. “
The adult hospital features 1,109 patient rooms which all have an external window and are equipped to the highest standards with private shower and toilet facilities, free television, radio and Wi-Fi.
There are self-service check-in machines and beneath the hospital is a network of underground tunnels for a fleet of autonomous robots.
The NHS ‘droids’ are tasked with moving medical supplies, linen, food and waste around the complex.
The facility also included miles of pneumatic tubes that will allow staff to fire medical notes, samples and medicines around the complex in seconds.
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