Heart-op survivor meets The Queen

Jul 24 2008 by Sandra Walls, Hamilton Advertiser

A HAMILTON man was introduced to the Queen at the hospital where he underwent major surgery.

The Queen was at the Golden Jubilee Hospital, Glasgow, to officially open a new wing there earlier this month.

John Robinson (71), who had quadruple heart bypass surgery at the hospital two years ago, was invited to attend.

The Queen’s visit was one of the highlights of NHS Scotland's 60th anniversary celebrations.

Before unveiling a plaque at the new heart and lung centre, the Queen was introduced to a number of patients.

The Golden Jubilee was previously a private hospital but was acquired by the Government to bring down waiting times for surgery across Scotland. It is part of the National Waiting Times Centre.

Among those who met the Queen was John, from Sneddon Street, who was accompanied to the opening by his wife, Edna, also 71.

John told the Advertiser: “The Queen said to me that it didn’t look like a hospital, and Prince Phillip asked me what operation I’d had done.

“I told him I had a quadruple heart bypass, he replied: ‘you look well.’”

John also was at the ceremony in June, 2006, to mark the start of work on the centre.

He said: “I had my operation and was sitting up in bed the following evening to welcome my visitors including my wife and son Martin (45) from Blantyre.

“Thirty-six hours later the Minister for Health, at the time Andy Kerr, visited the hospital and I got chatting to him.

He arranged for me to attend the ceremony.”

John previously met the Queen in 1956 when he was aged 19 and serving with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers in Singapore.

He took part in a guard of honour to mark her birthday, and added: “I was wearing the KOSBs white ceremonial tropical uniform and I featured in the Advertiser after my mother Annie Robinson provided a picture.”

John finished work at age 65 but decided that retirement was not for him and began work in the Time Office at Tunnock’s

“I have worked there for the past six years and I love it,” he said.

“I feel as fit as ever after my quadruple bypass and will keep working as long as I can.”

The new Heart and Lung Centre for the West Of Scotland brings together a wide range of specialist expertise in one facility.

Jill Young, chief executive of the NHS National Waiting Times Centre, said: “Anyone who needs a bypass, heart valve, or complex lung surgery will be treated here.

“We also have a number of national services based here such as the heart transplant unit.”