Tops for hospitals

Alex Neil, the cabinet secretary for health and wellbeing, came along to officiate at the event on the top floor of the new adult hospital.

It was the latest step which has already seen the opening of a new £90 million laboratory last year.

The adult hospital, which will open in early 2015, sits alongside the new children’s hospital and, with the laboratory, will be connected by a subterranean tunnel.

The project, which costs £842 million, is the largest, single building project ever undertaken in Scotland.

Alex Neil said: “This hospital ‘super site’ is the largest healthcare building project ever to take place in Scotland.

“The new adult and children’s hospitals will provide the very best locations and state-of-the-art equipment for both staff and patients across the west of Scotland.

“Investing in our NHS estate has significant benefits for our economy — over 460 jobs have been created as part of the project, including 95 apprenticeships.

“The project is on time and on budget, and by funding it entirely through public finance, we are ensuring it is deliverable, sustainable and represents best value for money for the taxpayer.”

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde chief executive Robert Calderwood said: “Today’s topping out ceremony takes us to the final stages of a journey which started back in 2001 and is a truly momentous occasion.

“The project will see us deliver a programme of investment of almost £2 billion in modernising our healthcare accommodation across acute, mental helth and primary community care.

“Not since the Victorian era have the people of Glasgow been presented with such a level of investment resulting in an array of brand new healthcare buildings desinged to ensure the advancement of medicine and provide the highest possible quality of patient care.

“The completion of the New South Glasgow Hospitals project, as the final piece of the jigsaw of our modernisation strategy, provides us with a once in a generation opportunityto embrace new and enhanced ways of working which will delivre huge patient benefits.”