The NHS have voted to move selected and specialist services from the Children’s Ward at the RAH in Paisley.
The majority of care provided to children will continue to be provided on the Royal Alexandra Hospital’s Ward 15. Outpatient services, the specialist Community Paediatric service (PANDA), and emergency care for those who self-refer will all remain at the RAH.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) Board members voted in favour of the proposal to deliver paediatric in-patient care for children from the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC).
The result of the vote will now be sent to the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport for consideration.
Greater Glasgow and Clyde said that it is anticipated that around 8,006 episodes of care will transfer to the RHC while 12,063 will remain at the RAH.
The board members took into account views expressed during the 12 week consultation and acknowledged the range of clinical benefits of improving the acute and specialist services offered to children in the Clyde area before reaching their decision.
John Brown, chairman, NHSGGC, said: “Today we saw a detailed discussion on this service change following the conclusion of the consultation.
“Our staff carried out four consultation events and nine drop in sessions across the Clyde area to help patients and their families share their views with us and allow us to answer any questions they may have.
“The board has today recognised the overwhelming clinical support and decided that young patients from Clyde will now benefit from the same first class, state-of-the-art facilities as other children from across the West of Scotland who already attend the hospital.
“The RHC is one of the finest paediatric teaching hospitals in the UK and the largest in Scotland. The entire focus is around children and young people, with care provided in a child-friendly environment.”
It was also noted that four petitions, with approximately 6,600 signatures, were submitted on the service change to the board.