MORE than 2800 people are backing an online petition urging a health board to remove the royal title from Glasgow's newest hospital.

The £842million facility, formerly known as the South Glasgow University Hospital, was named after the monarch after the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh officially opened it on Friday.

It is now called the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

But campaigners are calling for the name to be reversed.

They argue that naming the new hospital after monarch is "an affront to our democracy".

The online petition, launched by John Beattie, says: "We call on the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board to change the name of the new South Glasgow hospital.

"Naming the new hospital after a monarch is an affront to our democracy. The fundamental principle of democracy is the equality of all people.

"Considering the fundamental principle of monarchy is superiority of the monarch and their family over everyone else in society, we feel the naming of a public building after such a person is unacceptable."

The petition has attracted 2822 signatures so far.

Some supporters said the hospital should be named after a local person.

Sarah Findlay said: "Glasgow history is awash with examples of strong women who fought for health equality and social justice, and to name it after a woman who doesn't even use the NHS is absurd."

An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spokeswoman said: "It was an honour for our staff and patients to have the queen officially open three magnificent new health care facilities which will benefit not only the people of Glasgow but the people of Scotland.

"It is also a privilege to be given the honour of royal title for these magnificent new buildings."

The 1,109-bed facility was built on the site of Southern General.

The new campus replaces the Royal Hospital for Sick Kids at Yorkhill, the Southern General Hospital, as well as the Western and Victoria infirmaries.