By Marjory Inglis, health reporter

PARENTS IN Tayside and Fife may not think they have a reason to take a close interest in the choice of site for a planned £100 million children’s hospital in Glasgow.

However, they have just as much reason to influence the work of the Scottish Executive advisory group set up to consider a replacement for the Yorkhill Sick Children’s Hospital as parents from Glasgow and the Central Belt.

Seriously ill children from Tayside and north-east Fife are sent to Yorkhill for treatment not available locally and many families over the years have gone to Glasgow with very sick children.

NHS Tayside’s chief executive Professor Tony Wells is a member of the Calder Advisory Group, which is seeking views on the location of the hospital.

The group will hold an open public session on Monday to hear the views of individuals and groups on the best location for the new children’s hospital which is planned for Glasgow, alongside maternity and adult services.

This follows the Greater Glasgow NHS Board’s options appraisal meetings this month and its recommendation of the Southern General Hospital site as the preferred location for the new children’s hospital.

“Our group will be reviewing all the options under consideration, particularly the options for siting the new children’s hospital at Gartnavel, the Royal Infirmary and the Southern General,” said Professor Andrew Calder, who chairs the clinical advisory group which was set up by Health Minister Andy Kerr in the summer to advise on the most appropriate site for a replacement for Yorkhill.

“Members of the group have visited the three main option sites and have asked for detailed reports from Greater Glasgow NHS Board on the various options and their conclusions, including any scoring assessments used,” he said.

“We now seek the views of interested individuals and groups to assist with our deliberations and the preparations of our advice to the minister.”

Individuals or groups can make their views known in person to the Calder Group at the session on Monday or by letter or Email. Written submissions should be sent to Professor Andrew Calder, Calder Advisory Group, Room S7128, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA.

They can also be sent by Email to calderadvisorygroup@ed.ac.uk by Thursday, November 10. All submissions will be made public. Monday’s public session will start at 2 pm in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, 232-242 St Vincent Street, Glasgow.