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]
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]
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]
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]
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
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
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
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
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
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]
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]
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