EXCLUSIVE: Community Seeks to Honour Memory of Children who Died at Former Yorkhill Hospital
A Lasting Tribute To Those Lost And A Fight To Preserve The Site's Legacy
EXCLUSIVE by Gary Fanning
🕯 A campaign is growing to honour the memory of children who died at Yorkhill Hospital — and The Splash is here to tell their story.
As demolition looms for the iconic Glasgow hospital, community leaders are demanding that any redevelopment includes a permanent memorial.
They say the lives lost — and the NHS staff who cared for them — must never be forgotten.
Now, with the site set to become housing, Yorkhill and Kelvingrove Community Council says a memorial garden is non-negotiable.
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Community leaders are calling for a memorial garden to be included in plans for the former Yorkhill Hospital site — to honour generations of children who died there.
With the iconic Glasgow hospital now set for demolition, locals say the redevelopment must include a permanent tribute to the lives lost and the staff who cared for them.
The site will be turned into a mix of social and private housing, but Yorkhill and Kelvingrove Community Council says a memorial garden is non-negotiable.
They also believe no student flats will be built due to an existing moratorium in the area, aimed at addressing overconcentration.
At last week’s community council meeting, community councillors said grieving families need a peaceful place to reflect — and the site deserves a lasting legacy.
One said: “I have been saying for a while that there should be a memorial on this site for children that have passed either in Yorkhill Hospital or the Queen Mothers.
“That is something that we will be able to talk about in the future if they start taking down the site.
“I’ve said for 10 years there should be a memorial garden here. So many children died from the moment the hospital opened until it closed. People want somewhere to go and reflect.”
Another resident said: “There’s a lot of land up there — plenty of space. It’s massive.
Residents said that initial discussions have taken place between the council and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde about a Masterplan for the land.
Councillor Philip Bratt has thrown his weight behind the campaign and urged the community to start pushing now.
He added: “I think the memorial garden is absolutely the right thing to do,” he declared.
“The community council should take the lead, and the campaign should start through the media immediately.
“We must also pay tribute to the incredible NHS staff who worked there.
“The developers will be thinking about maximising every inch of ground for profit.”
Community members hope Glasgow City Council or the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity will ultimately agree to maintain the space and protect it from vandalism
A spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said they were not aware of any updates but would confirm with senior management.
They previously told The Splash: “In a continued effort to increase the efficiency of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, the Board has reviewed and analysed options to move clinical and non-clinical services off the West Glasgow ACH site and into existing alternative locations.
“This has allowed for the opportunity to incorporate the benefits of blended working, virtual service delivery models, and digitisation where applicable.
“Once fully vacated the site will be declared surplus to NHSGGC requirements and disposed of in accordance with the NHS Scotland Property Transactions Handbook”
The community hopes developers and decision-makers will listen — and ensure Yorkhill’s legacy lives on.
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