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NHS Golden Jubilee marks 23 years of transforming patient care in Scotland

NHS Golden Jubilee is celebrating 23 years of collaboration, innovation and person centred care as a unique national asset for NHS Scotland. 

Over the last 2 decades, the Golden Jubilee has carried out over 1 million procedures, treating patients from every health board area across the country. In the last year, the Golden Jubilee carried out nearly 120,000 procedures across our portfolio including:  

  • Over 6,200 orthopaedic procedures 

  • Over 11,800 ophthalmology procedures 

  • Over 1,600 general surgeries include colorectal procedures  

  • Over 8,800 endoscopy procedures. 

Since 2002, the national NHS Board has grown from undertaking 3,000 procedures in a small number of specialties to a national asset that has gained university status from the University of Glasgow and the University of Strathclyde and includes a Research Institute, Conference and Training venue, the NHS Scotland Academy and the national Centre for Sustainable Delivery. 

It has evolved into one of the UKs largest and most successful heart and lung centres, providing regional and national services such as heart transplantation. In the last year alone, have carried out over 91,000 cardiology, heart and lung surgeries, including 29 heart transplants, reinforcing NHS Golden Jubilee’s role as a key provider of specialist cardiac care. 

As one of Europe’s largest elective orthopaedic and cataract centres, patients have benefited from the specialist care that only comes with being a dedicated treatment centre carrying out about 30% of Scotland’s procedures in these specialties.  

NHS Golden Jubilee is also a major diagnostics imaging service providing vital scan and scope procedures for patients in multiple specialties. In the last year, have carried out over 75,000 diagnostic procedures, providing faster diagnosis for patients.   

NHS Golden Jubilee also delivers lung cancer surgery which is reported against the 31-day cancer target of 95%. Last year (2024/25), patients were seen within target 100% of the time.   

In addition to treating Scotland’s population, NHS Golden Jubilee has been one of the most innovative organisations within the health sector. Some examples over the past year include: 

  • Performed the world’s first supersaturated oxygen (SSO₂) therapy, potentially reducing heart damage following a severe type of heart attack. 

  • Became the first NHS hospital in Scotland to receive European accreditation by the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACI) for heart imaging.  

  • Collaborating with the University of Glasgow in groundbreaking research to improve muscle strength and mobility of patients undergoing knee replacements leading to better recovery. 

  • Collaborating with the University of Strathclyde in groundbreaking research on the use of 3D bio-printing technology with patient stem cells and other substances found in bones like calcium to create “scaffolds” that could help regenerate bone defects in the body. 

  • Became the first the NHS Hospital in Scotland to be accredited by the Royal College of Physicians’ Joint Advisory Group (JAG) on Gastrointestinal (GI) Endoscopy 

  • Carried out over 3,000 MAKO robotic procedures for patients across Scotland, allowing allow to us deliver a better outcome for our patients. 

  • Performed over 1,500 Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement, improving patients' quality of life and substantially reduces the risk of heart failure and death. 

Chief Executive of NHS Golden Jubilee, Gordon James, commented : “As a national asset for NHS Scotland, we are extremely proud of how far this organisation has come in 23 years. 

“Our highly skilled specialists and dedicated staff have led the way in new and innovative techniques, which has helped thousands of patients and families across Scotland, providing them with a better quality of life. 

“Over the past year, we’ve seen continued success with the opening of our brand-new Surgical Centre a milestone that has already had a significant impact on meeting planned care demands, particularly in high-need areas such as hip and knee replacements and endoscopy. 

“Looking ahead, we remain committed to delivering world-class specialist care through our renowned heart and lung services, while continuing to expand and enhance our planned care and diagnostic offerings for the benefit of patients across Scotland."