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
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]
^Smith, E. Nursing at the Victoria (chapter 9) in The Victoria Infirmary of Glasgow, 1890-1990: a centenary history / edited by S D Slater & D A Dow. Glasgow: Victoria Infirmary Committee.
^Smith, E. Nursing at the Victoria (chapter 9) in The Victoria Infirmary of Glasgow, 1890-1990: a centenary history / edited by S D Slater & D A Dow. Glasgow: Victoria Infirmary Committee.
^"Nurses in the Birthday Honours". Nursing Times: 823. 1965.
^Smith, E. Nursing at the Victoria (chapter 9) in The Victoria Infirmary of Glasgow, 1890-1990: a centenary history / edited by S D Slater & D A Dow. Glasgow: Victoria Infirmary Committee.
^"Rcn Council Election Results". Nursing Times. 63 (30): 1012. 1967.
^Smith, E. Nursing at the Victoria (chapter 9) in The Victoria Infirmary of Glasgow, 1890-1990: a centenary history / edited by S D Slater & D A Dow. Glasgow: Victoria Infirmary Committee.