This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New heart and lung centre
12/01/2006
A specialist heart and lung centre of excellence is to be established at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Clydebank.
The West of Scotland Regional cardiothoracic service will be one of the largest units of its kind in the UK.
It will concentrate clinical expertise, the latest techniques and equipment on one site with the aim of delivering complex procedures to even higher standards.
Services will be delivered on a West of Scotland basis, but the heart transplant service will be Scotland-wide.
Health Minister Andy Kerr said:
"It is well established that concentrating expertise and resources for the most complex cases produces the best results. It saves lives.
"That's why for some time, NHS Greater Glasgow and NHS Lanarkshire, who carry out heart and lung operations on behalf of patients in the region, have been looking at pooling their resources.
"Under Glasgow's original plans, they would only have been able to make space for such a service from 2012. Now, by making maximum use of the capacity at the Golden Jubilee, we can deliver this by spring 2007.
"I am confident this project will turn out to be a milestone in the delivery of heart and lung operations in Scotland. Concentrating on one site means better education and training for junior doctors, more specialisation and more skilled treatment, using the latest equipment.
"More specialised nurses means better pre- and post- operation care, and locating at the Golden Jubilee means that operations can be scheduled without fear of disruption from unplanned admissions.
"Patients from across the region already travel to the existing Glasgow services. But I want to see the Boards involved develop their current plans so that access to the new service is as convenient as possible."
Jill Young, Chief Executive of the Golden Jubilee, added:
"We are extremely pleased that we are able to offer heart and lung patients this dedicated facility five years ahead of schedule. The centralisation of these services will create one of the largest specialist units in the UK. With clinical expertise and high-tech equipment concentrated at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital, patients in the West of Scotland will receive faster, high quality treatment.
"Our Hospital is a national centre that provides the highest level of care and supports other NHS Boards by helping treat patients earlier in several clinical specialities. This announcement enables us to further this support and improve patient services."