News

You're not signed in
Sign in
Sign up

Queen Mother's Maternity Hospital - tell us your stories

Glasgow hospital closes after 46 years, and we want to hear your memories.

12 January 2010 10:29 GMT

149800
Queen Mother's Maternity Hospital - tell us your stories

Queen Mother's: 46 years of history Pic: © NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

On January 13, The Queen Mother's Maternity Hospital at Yorkhill in Glasgow closes after 46 years. During the time more than 160,000 babies have been born there, may of whom went on to have their own children in the hospital.

Over the years it performed a crucial role in the lives of generations of Glasgow families.

The closure marks the end of a chapter in the city's history, and we are asking you to share your recollections about the hospital. 

Maybe you gave birth there, and want to share your experiences, or want to thank the staff for the help they gave.

Perhaps you worked there and have stories that you want to pass on.

Share your stories using the comments box below.

Watch our video report here

Ads by Google

Share

There are 21 comments

You need to be logged in to comment.

Don't have a mySTV account? Create one now it's easy

  1. Avatar for Graham Fraser

    1. 12 Jan 2010 13:43Graham Fraser said

    I have great memories of this hospital. sad to see it go

    Report as unsuitable

  2. Default avatar

    2. 12 Jan 2010 14:00DMD said

    I was born here and so were my 2 sons and countless friends sons. Lots of happy, and no doubt some very painful(!) memories for lots of Mums and Dads. Sad to see it go, but hopefully if there is a number 3 for me, some of the same faces will be around at the Southern General. Lots of lovely staff there too.

    Report as unsuitable

  3. Default avatar

    3. 12 Jan 2010 14:24JanetHig38 said

    Me and my husband where both born at the QMH and I also had the pleasure of working there for 3 years as well having 3 kids all successfully born at QMH including the youngest Michael who is now 1 and was born on Hogmany 2008 and delivered by excellent staff. Janetxx

    Report as unsuitable

  4. Default avatar

    4. 12 Jan 2010 15:58AMWP said

    Ihave great memories of QMH, all of my 4 chidren were born there, the first in 1970, the last 1977, the staff were always great.

    Professor Donald looked after me during my first pregnancy and having an ultrascan was rare as the QMH was as far as I know the first hospital to have one. I think it is a great shame it is closing.

    A x

    Report as unsuitable

  5. Default avatar

    5. 12 Jan 2010 17:19Lucy Fraser said

    I have just watched the news and i am very saddened to hear that The Queen Mother's Hospital s to close its doors. :(

    I am writing to say it holds a very special place in my heart as i had delivered all 8 of my children there over an 18yr period (all to same father!!

    We celebrate our 31st anniversary this year)

    I had my first son James in 1979,2nd son Stuart in 1981,3rd son David in 1982 my 1st daughter Emma in 1985,4th son Sandy in 1987,2nd daughter Nina in 1990,my 3rd daughter Holly in 1994 and my 5th son Ben in 1997.

    Sadly we lost our eldest son James in a tragic fire in Glasgow 11yrs ago but the other 7 children still live and work at home. I will always have wonderful memories of the Queen Mother's Hospital and all the wonderful staff who cared for me and all my children. One of the night sisters was working for the 18yrs I was attending. I would love to be able to have a small piece of the hospital as a memento, perhaps a ward sign?? I think i was in every ward between all my visits!! Thank-you

    Report as unsuitable

  6. Default avatar

    6. 12 Jan 2010 19:28Lynsey Leyden said

    The Queen Mums will have a special place in our hearts. Without the care of the Fetal Medicine Unit we would not have a happy health 4 month baby boy. At 20 weeks our baby was very sick and the Fetal Medicine Unit performed 3 blood transfusions on the baby while still in the womb. We are be indebted to them.

    Report as unsuitable

  7. Default avatar

    7. 12 Jan 2010 19:41carlin quinn said

    I HAVE THE QUEEN MOTHER AND THE EXCELLENT DR ALAN CAMERON TO THANK FOR THE GIFT OF MY SON IN 1993. MY SON RECIEVED THREE BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS IN THE WOMB TO KEEP HIM ALIVE THROUGH MY PREGNANCY IF IT WAS,NT FOR THE SKILLS OF THE DOCTORS AND NURSES THERE WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED SO MANY MANY THANKS TO ALL I AM SADDENED TO SEE IT CLOSE

    Report as unsuitable

  8. Default avatar

    8. 12 Jan 2010 20:02lorraine3917 said

    Like Carlin I have Allan Cameron and his team to thank for my daughter Leona. I had 13 attempts (not all successful :-0)at intrauterine transfussions add to this the fact Leona had two heart attacks in the womb ....And not to mention the months of care after.

    Without this wonderful hospital and all of the staff involved in "South Wing" I would not have her today, this is a very sad time :-(

    Report as unsuitable

  9. Default avatar

    9. 12 Jan 2010 20:16mercgt said

    I am disappointed that greater glasgow and clyde health board have decided in their INFINITE WISDOM to close the gold standard of maternity units. Where will mothers go now when their babies are born sick or early, they were always welcomed with open arms and a cuddle of support and comfort by the staff at the Queen Mothers' when their precious bundle required to be admitted to Yorkhill for care and attention, they will be separated from their child or have to risk their own lives by discharging themselves dangerously early to be near them. It is a step back in time NOT an improvement in maternity services for the 21st century as they wrongly suggest!! This is a tragedy and the public have been very badly misled, any excuse used by the health board to account for this closure could be shot down in flames especially the one about no intensive care services for mums at the QM == they used to be transferrd to the western ITU by a specialised "shock team" now at the Southern General they will be put on a trolley and transferred in the back of a VAN!!! Who thought that one up- was it Catriona Renfrew What medical training does she have I wonder??? It is a Disgrace

    Report as unsuitable

  10. Default avatar

    10. 12 Jan 2010 21:32ian bain said

    I would like to add a comment, regarding the closure of the Queen Mothers, All my children were born in the QM and glad to say healthy,but if anything was to go wrong i had the peace of mind knowing that yorkhill high independence unit was a corridor away, Now if my children have children i just pray to god that my grandkids are born healthy as well other wise we will have to wait on an over streched ambulance service or go onto the Govan road and get a bus thru the tunnel to Yorkhill. Baby care has took second place once again to cost cutting, the land that the QM currently sits on watch this space in future flash houses will be built and baby care gone in a flash!!! Is this us moving forward you decide.

    Ian Bain

    Report as unsuitable

  11. Default avatar

    11. 12 Jan 2010 22:57Douglas Cameron said

    My mum who died 6 years ago was an Admissions Sister and Midwife at the Queen Mums. She loved her job and I remember driving to pick her up from the hospital sometimes and would walk in to say hello to her colleagues, who always made me feel welcome. The whole family feels very sad at the loss of this famous hospital that everyone seems to have a soft spot for and our mum was such a supporter of. To all her colleagues who may remember Dolina Cameron, good luck with your futures and I am sure your true skills will always be in great demand

    Report as unsuitable

  12. Default avatar

    12. 12 Jan 2010 23:22sad said

    As a member of staff at the QMH, I have been appalled at the treatment of my colleagues by the management. Staff have been treated with little respect, without so much as a thank you for the years of service. An opportunity was there to do so on national TV by the head of midwifery! Momentos to commemorate the QMH have been commisioned and are available for sale, perhaps a token of thanks could have been reflected by a gift of a momento to the staff.

    We all wish our clinical colleagues all the best in their new posts and will always have many memories of the QMH.

    Report as unsuitable

  13. Default avatar

    13. 13 Jan 2010 00:43charli said

    I am very saddened to hear of the closure of QMH.

    Both of my girls were born there two years apart, one at 26 weeks and the other at 29 weeks gestation. I will forever be grateful to the medical & nursing staff who saved my daughters lives and ensured I have two happy & healthy children today.

    Report as unsuitable

  14. Default avatar

    14. 13 Jan 2010 13:54Fab4 said

    We have a lovely new daughter, born at QMH last month. I feel very privileged to have given birth at QMH before this wonderful hospital closed its doors. The care I received was excellent and I will always be very grateful to the medical and nursing staff.

    Report as unsuitable

  15. Default avatar

    15. 13 Jan 2010 17:38Cath1998 said

    Sad to see Queen Mothers close. My daughter was born in 1998 there, 9 and a half weeks premature, weighing 2lb 13oz.....a wee scoot!!! The care that I received during a very difficult pregnancy was second to none and after my daughter was born she was in Special Care Baby Unit and was looked after wonderfully for 8 weeks. Over the years we had to take her to her development appointments to keep track of her progress and the staff were brilliant. Rhona will remember her as the baby with the pink milk or the baby from hell. My daughter did not like milk when she was born and the only way we could get her to feed was to add Strawberry Krusha to her feeds. Thankfully the Krusha had no bad effect on her. I now have a cheeky 11 year old going who thinks she knows best!!!

    Report as unsuitable

  16. Default avatar

    16. 13 Jan 2010 20:35LynneG said

    My sister was born at Queen Mother's Hospital on 1st January 1965,I spent 10 weeks in the Queen Mother before my Daughter was born in October 1993 and the care and attention I had from all the staff was second to none, I shared a room with 4 other mothers to be who were also in hospital for the duration and we still keep in touch,what a wonderful hospital with wonderful staff it will be sadly missed.

    Report as unsuitable

  17. Default avatar

    17. 14 Jan 2010 23:35Lynsco said

    I am so sad to see the QMH closed down both my brother and I were born there but also in 2006 my baby boy was delivered by emergency section at only 32 weeks due to a medical condition he had which was diagnosed at my first Scan. The section was carried out by Allan Cameron and my family were so thankful for the great job he did. If it wasn't for the help and care of the staff in QMH and RSCH my baby boy would not be where he is today, a wild 3 year old who is loving nursery. I will always be indebted to both hospitals.

    Report as unsuitable

  18. Default avatar

    18. 14 Jan 2010 23:57LUMP IN MY THROAT. said

    Couldn't believe that QM has been shut. Both my daughters were born there. Received excellant care and attention.

    Just to add to the melting pot - my eldest daughter's 23rd birthday was on Wednesday, the day it closed!!

    What a day to remember.

    Hope all staff are relocated?

    Report as unsuitable

  19. Default avatar

    19. 21 Jan 2010 10:54HP.Kdy. said

    I had my first daughter in QMH in l968 I was in 'the mushroom'prenatal and remember standing waving to my husband each morning as he passed in the train from Bearsden to Glasgow - oh happy days! I went on to have 3 more daughters all born in different hospitals,but QMH was so special.

    Report as unsuitable

  20. Default avatar

    20. 17 Feb 2010 21:28LouLouSmith said

    I had my daughter in September 2009 at the QMH. My daughter had to be delivered by forceps and i experienced complications straight after and had to have 3 surgery's within two days and spent three days in the high dependency unit. The level of care i received from all staff during my procedures and my recovery was exceptional and i could not have got through it all without their support. I would like to thank Dr K Spowart for all his help during and since my time at the QMH.

    I think it is such a shame and a great loss that this hospital has now closed. I hope that all staff got new position in other hospitals. I have been trying to contact staff who treated me to thank them personally but am having great difficulty in tracking some down :(

    Report as unsuitable

  21. Default avatar

    21. 27 Mar 2010 08:57Margaret G said

    My daughter Joyce was born at QMMH on 25 April 1966 and I met an (almost) life-long friend, Pat Lee, in the process who also gave birth at the same time; unfortunatley we have since lost touch tho' she was living in Livingston the last I heard. There is no doubt that the level of care (and luxury !) at QMMH made a lasting impression on me and my family though the only thing my husband seems to remember about the occasion is how much the florist charged for the roses! We all live happily in Tasmania now but I will never forget QMH and am very sad that it is no more.

    Report as unsuitable

You need to be logged in to comment.

sign in

Don't have a mySTV account? Create one now it's easy

Posts are not actively monitored by STV. The views expressed are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of STV.

Online news and sport bulletin: Sunday, February 12

 

Watch now

Video