Gallus Glasgow Y: Yorkhill

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Yorkhill Hospitals

Yorkhill is a mainly residential area on the north bank of the Clyde, but say its name to most Glaswegians and the instant association is “Sick Kids”. The Royal Hospital for Sick Children, usually just known as “Yorkhill” treats thousands of patients each year – approximately 90,000 out-patients, 15,000 in-patients, 7,300 day-cases and 35,000 Accident and Emergency cases.

This wasn’t the hospital’s original home, however. After 20 years of arguing about a suitable site, the first children’s hospital in Glasgow was founded (by charitable donations) in Garnethill in 1882. It quickly became too small, and today is an annexe to a local school: that’s it below with a close-up of the relief over the door showing Charity comforting a child.

Former children’s hospital, Garnethill
Charity comforting a child

In 1914, a public appeal raised £140,000 for the new site at Yorkhill – approximately £7m in today’s money. The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow recently held a symposium to celebrate a century of paediatric care at Yorkhill – the College Library blogpost about it has some lovely images, including one of dolls wearing the 1964 uniform of the Queen Mother’s Hospital (the maternity hospital on the same site).

Now the hospital is on the move again. The redeveloped Southern General campus in Govan, on the other side of the river, is almost complete and will serve both adults and children from later this year. This time, of course, it’s funded by the National Health Service (although the admirable Yorkhill Children’s Charity raises money for additional resources). Let’s be grateful that we no longer have to rely on charity for our healthcare.

I can’t believe it’s the last letter tomorrow! Let’s go to the movies for Z.

A to Z Challenge 2015, Scotland, UK , ,

36 Comments »

  1. Had my daughter in the Queen Mother Hospital in 1982. We were all, naturally, encouraged to breast feed, but I did not know whether to be put off, or not, by the advised liberal application of ‘The Queen Mother’s Nipple Cream!’

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  3. That’s a great history for a hospital. And so many patients! When I heard the nickname, I thought it was going to have some sort of horrible history. Glad it’s not the case. 🙂

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  7. As you say, let’s be grateful we no longer have to rely on charity for our health care funding. Although, considering how big a bite health care takes out of government budgets these days, you have to wonder if we’ll end up going back to that very much less than desirable system.

    Oh, the sweet sound of Z. Can’t wait!

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  8. I am glad they kept the façade of the original building because of the child with Charity. It is great that so much is going towards the health and helping of people-wish it could like that everywhere

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  11. I wondered if Yorkhill would be your ‘Y’. I’ve known a few people whose kids have been treated there for various things. There’s a bit of a sense of sadness at it moving to the new site, but also people looking forward to the brand new facilities as well.

    And I wonder if my guess for your ‘Z’ post will be correct…

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    • I didn’t know about the Garnethill building until quite recently – the history is interesting. And yes, the new hospital looks great but I don’t know if they’ve kept any link to the old name or not? It’s sad to lose the connection.

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