Happy 65th to the NHS...

THE southside’s NHS team is celebrating its 65th year of existence by acknowledging some recent past achievements.

Most notable to many southsiders in our catchment area is the opening of the New Victoria Infirmary.

The hospital opened its doors in the summer of 2009 at a cost of £100 million.

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One of the bold aims of the new hospital was the transformation of the balance of acute hospital care away from inpatient, overnight procedures to same-day treatment.

There was also the introduction of MRI scanning, chemotherapy and renal dialysis inhouse rather than sendingpatients to other sites.

The following year saw the beginning of the building of the New South Glasgow Hospitals Campus — and ambitious project on the site of the Southern General Hospital.

As The Extra reported, the new hospital had a topping out ceremony officiated by cabinet secretary for health and wellbeing Alex Neil, and is due to open in 2015.

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Cited as the biggest single building project in Scotland’s NHS, it is said to be on course to meet its targets for opening and budget — £840 million.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon commented at the time that “both the new adult and children’s hospitals will provide world-class facilities.”

Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS has also created a website portal at www.nhsggc.org.uk/anniversary where people can log on and relive some memories of the past 65 years.

Commenting on the past five years, NHSGGC chairman Andrew Robertson said: “Since 2008 the New Victoria and Stobhill Ambulatory Care hospitals have opened transforming the balance of care with a much greater emphasis on same-day treatment.

“New health centres have opened such as Barrhead and Renfrew and construction work is underway on other sites such as the Vale Health Centre which will open later this year.”