The Scottish Government has approved the £842 million new South Glasgow Hospitals, which will contain facilities to treat both children and adults.
It will be Scotland’s largest ever investment in a hospital complex.
The development will contain 1,109 beds for adults alongside 256 children’s beds, providing maternity, paediatric and acute services on one site.
Supporters called the project a “major step forward” for Glasgow’s health.
Shona Robison, public health minister, said: “The new South Glasgow Hospitals is Scotland’s biggest ever hospital building project and will be entirely publicly-funded. It’s great news for people throughout the West of Scotland that this important project has been given the final go-ahead.
“Providing services for all ages on a single site will ensure patients can access the widest possible range of specialist services and will also bring with it increased efficiency, shorter waiting times and better continuity of care.
“This will be the largest single investment in Scottish health services and will transform healthcare for patients and staff. In the current economic climate, this significant investment is a clear signal that the Scottish Government is continuing to prioritise spending on our NHS to improve patient care.”
The project was given the go-ahead after the Government examined the financial case for opening it. Construction is expected to finish in January 2015 and the hospital will be up and running by the summer of that year.
Robert Calderwood, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Chief Executive, said: “I am delighted that the Scottish Government has approved the full business case for the New South Glasgow Hospitals project. The project will see us complete a programme of investment of more than £1.5 billion in modern healthcare accommodation across both acute and mental health facilities.
“Taken together these major strides forward, with the new South Glasgow Hospital at the centre, we will have the tools for the delivery of sustainable, high quality, cost effective healthcare for NHSGGC residents.”
The adult hospital will provide acute in-patient care, some medical day cases and outpatient clinics, whilst day surgery will be carried out at the new Victoria Hospital.
The children’s hospital will provide accident and emergency services alongside in-patient and day care paediatric treatment.
A new laboratory will also be built, to provide biochemistry, haematology, blood transfusion and mortuary services.
