Care system NHS Affiliated university University of Glasgow Founded 1874 | Hospital type Teaching Emergency department No | |
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Location Dumbarton Rd, Glasgow, Scotland | ||
The Western Infirmary was a teaching hospital situated in the West End of Glasgow, Scotland 1874−2015. There was also a Maggie's centre at the hospital to help cancer patients, as well as the Glasgow Clinical Research Facility.
History
In the 1870s, when the University of Glasgow moved from the city centre to the West End, distancing itself from the Royal Infirmary, a new teaching hospital was built in 1874 as part of the new university buildings. By 1890 there had already been 877 operations performed in the hospital.
Initially only having 150 beds, by 1911 this had increased to over six hundred. In 1936 the decision was taken to establish a medical department. In 1938 the Gardiner Institute of Medicine opened, taking its name from the family that had gifted almost £25,000 towards its foundation.
In 1936 a new ophthalmology department was officially opened, named the Tennent Memorial, with an entrance on Church Street. In 1938 the research capacity increased with the opening of the Gardiner Institute, in conjunction with the University of Glasgow.
A £3.5 million two-phase rebuilding programme was authorised by the Glasgow Corporation in June 1962 The 256–bed Phase 1 block was completed in 1974. After the completion of the nearby Gartnavel General Hospital in 1972, Phase 2 was indefinitely postponed in 1975.
The Western Infirmary opened as a voluntary hospital relying upon donations and bequests from members of the public. In 1948 with the introduction of the National Health Service the Western came under the management of the Glasgow Western Hospitals Board of Management.
In 2002, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde announced the results of a three-year consultation, the Greater Glasgow's Acute Services Review, wherein they outlined a £700 million modernisation plan for Glasgow's hospitals. As part of the plan, services will be transferred to expanded facilities at Gartnavel General Hospital, but mainly to the South Glasgow University Hospital. In 2010 the western had 493 inpatient beds.
In Autumn 2015, the Western Infirmary was shut down with the exception of the minor injuries unit, and the site will be redeveloped by the University of Glasgow. At the end of 2015 the Minor Injuries Unit moved a short distance to the Yorkhill Hospital site and the Western Infirmary closed completely on 6 December 2015.