Glasgow Caledonian University donates ‘vital’ medical equipment to Scotland’s new coronavirus hospital

Glasgow Caledonian University has donated medical equipment from its training facility to the new NHS Louisa Jordan hospital in the city.

The fully operational and up-to-date equipment will be used to help NHS staff at the temporary hospital, based in the Scottish Events Campus (SEC), receive essential Covid-19 training.

Chief Executive of the NHS Louisa Jordan, Jill Young, expressed her “sincere and heartfelt thank you from the entire team” at the hospital to the university for sending the equipment which she says will play a “vital role” in ensuring staff have the training and support they need.

The equipment, including a hospital bed, an intensive care observations trolley, a drop stand and a pulse and oxygen monitor, was taken from the university’s state-of-the-art Interprofessional Simulation Centre, which looks and feels like a real hospital.

Hundreds of third-year students nurses who have recently joined the coronavirus emergency response learned vital clinical skills at the GCU facility.

© Peter Devlin

The simulation centre has four wards, an emergency room, intensive care room and operating theatre fully equipped with the latest technology to prepare students for the workplace.

The delivery to the new hospital was organised by GCU School of Health and Life Sciences Vice-Dean, Professor Anita Simmers, and Simulation Centre Co-ordinator and nursing lecturer Liz Simpson, through the Scottish Government, which is setting up the new emergency NHS Louisa Jordan facility.

Professor Simmers said: “In supporting the NHS Louisa Jordan we hope that our equipment will help ensure vital NHS staff receive the training they require. As a civically engaged University that is committed to its social mission, we are delighted to be supporting the outstanding job frontline NHS staff are doing at this time.”

NHS Louisa Jordan Chief Executive, Jill Young, said: “Our contractors and NHS staff on site worked around the clock to make sure we are ready to support the NHS in Scotland.

“During this time, the outpouring of support and collaboration we have received from NHS Boards, Universities and organisations across the country has been absolutely incredible. This equipment will play a vital role in helping ensure that every member of staff has all the training and support they need to deliver the highest possible standard of care, if required.

“On behalf of the entire team, I would like to say a sincere and heartfelt thank you to Glasgow Caledonian University.”