It’s a fond farewell to the NHS Louisa Jordan.
Since July 2020 the NHS Louisa Jordan has played a crucial role in providing much needed space for the continuation of NHS services during the pandemic.
Thousands of Lanarkshire outpatients had consultations at the temporary hospital from a range of services including dermatology and plastic surgery. This also included over 5000 orthopaedics appointments.
Laura Hamilton, business support manager for trauma and orthopaedics, said: “Due to coronavirus restrictions in hospitals, it was very frustrating and disheartening to not be able to offer patients an appointment or even an indication of when they would be seen.
“The Louisa Jordan changed that for us. It gave us a much needed purpose and the chance to see patients who needed a face to face appointment.
“I certainly enjoyed the time I spent out at the SEC, almost as much as the time I attended an Enrique Iglesias concert there.
The NHS Louisa Jordan was kitted out with cubicles for consultations, hospital beds and medical equipment such as x-ray machines and CT scanners.
Mr Alistair Murray, consultant orthopaedic surgeon and clinical director for orthopaedics, said: “It was quite awe inspiring to see thousands of cubicles with beds, all empty, and imagining what it could have been like had it been the worst case scenario and it had to be used in the way it was envisaged. It was something that I will never forget.
“Thankfully, the Louisa Jordan was not required for its original purpose. This meant there was a huge space that was fully kitted out that could be put to some use. From my point of view, the Louisa Jordan has been fantastic for seeing patients and having contact with patients who needed to see us.”
Photo: Members of the NHS Lanarkshire trauma and orthopaedic team at the NHS Louisa Jordan in July 2020. The existing Covid-19 guidelines were adhered to.
