The Creation of the Queen Mother's Hospital

The concept of a new teaching maternity hospital for Glasgow had been in Donald's mind long before the building took its familiar shape on the skyline above the Yorkhill basin on Glasgow's famous River Clyde. He recounts that, at the time of his interview for the Regius Chair,he was asked what plans he might have for the future if he were to be appointed. Without hesitation he replied that he visualised a new modern maternity hospital in the west end of the city close to the University and the Western Infirmary and linked to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

His appointment to the Chair carried with it charge of a unit in the Glasgow Royal Maternity and Women's Hospital, known to generations of Glasgow women as “Rottenrow”, but it was always in his mind that this was no more than a staging post until the hospital of his dreams materialised and with typical drive and enthusiasm he set about realising the dream.

His first objective was to find the money and there were two possible sources to be tapped. First was the Scottish Office, which was responsible for the allocation of government funds, and he harried them relentlessly until the promise of a sizeable contribution was secured. His other source was the university, since it was to be a teaching hospital and again he was successful, thanks in no small part to the influence of the Principal, Sir Hector Hetherington, who was much impressed by the personality and ambition of the new member of the senate.