Glasgow Victoria Infirmary

55°49′39″N 4°16′03″W / 55.82742°N 4.26746°W / 55.82742; -4.26746OrganisationCare systemPublic NHSTypeTeachingAffiliated universityUniversity of GlasgowServicesEmergency departmentYes Accident & EmergencyBeds370HistoryOpened1890Closed2015LinksWebsiteVictoria InfirmaryListsHospitals in Scotland

The Glasgow Victoria Infirmary was a teaching hospital situated at Langside/Battlefield in the south-east of Glasgow from 1880 until 2015. It was managed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

History

A competition was held to design a 120-bedded hospital and this attracted 46 entries from architects around the UK.^[1] Campbell Douglas & Sellars won the competition to design the new voluntary hospital for the city's South Side in 1882.^[2] Building work began in 1888 and the infirmary was officially opened on 14 February 1890.^[2] The original buildings consisted of a central administration block, a lodge and one pavilion.^[1] A nurses' home was added in the 1890s and additional pavilions were added in 1902, to a design by Harry Edward Clifford, and in 1906.^[1]

The Victoria Infirmary obtained General Nursing Council approval for providing a 4 year nurse training course in 1918.^[3] Nurses who completed their training after 1923 were presented with the Victoria Infirmary solid silver badge with the puma emblem on it.^[4]

A new wing added an additional 120 beds to the hospital in 1927,^[5] another block provided a further 30 beds in 1931 and a further extension provided a further 50 beds in 1935.^[6] By 1939 the hospital had 555 beds.^[7]

Implementation of a development plan brought new laboratories, a theatre suite and teaching facilities in 1967.^[8]

After all inpatient and accident and emergency services had been transferred to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, the Glasgow Victoria Infirmary closed in May 2015.^[9] Housing provider Sanctuary Group then took over the 9.5-acre site in August 2016.^[2]

New Victoria Hospital

The New Victoria Hospital opened as an ambulatory care facility on a site opposite the old hospital in June 2009, and it is where all outpatient services that were previously housed at the old Victoria are now located.^[10]

Notable nursing staff

The following are the Matrons that worked at the Victoria Infirmary

1890 – 1894 Annie Ross,^[11] trained at Guy’s Hospital London.

1894 – 1910 Mary Mackinlay MacFarlane^[12][13][14]

1910 – 1917 Jessie Campbell, trained in the Victoria Infirmary. ^[15]

1917 – 1936 Janet Sloan Rodger, RRC,^[16] also of the Royal College of Nursing Scotland Board.^[17]

1936 – 1944 Isabella Stewart, trained in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, sister tutor, pioneer in developing a formal course of instruction for student nurses.^[18] She published Dietetics for nurses in 1928.^[19]

1945 – 1955 Barbara Quaile, OBE, trained in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, returned there to take up post of Lady Superintendent of nurses.^[20]

1955 – 1965 Janet Locke, OBE,^[21] trained in the Victoria Infirmary.^[22]

1965 – 1968 Ishbel Cameron, trained in the Victoria Infirmary,^[23] elected member of the Royal College of Nursing Council Scottish Section.^[24]

1968 – 1982 Florence Mitchell, trained in the Victoria Infirmary.^[25]

Nursing Director

1982 – 1984 Anne Jarvie, trained in the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. She went on to become the Deputy Chief Nursing Officer at the Scottish Home and Health Department.^[26]

References