Campaigners demand royal title is dropped from Scotland's newest hospital
Over 5,400 people, and counting, have signed a petition opposing the royal title of Scotland’s newest hospital.
Campaigners say calling the new facility the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital is an "affront to democracy".
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh officially opened it last Friday as part of a week-long visit to Scotland.
The new hospital, which sits on the site of the former Southern General, combines the Royal Hospital for Sick Kids at Yorkhill, the Southern General as well as the Western and Victoria infirmaries.
Campaigner John Beattie, who launched the petition on the online site Change.org, said: "We call on the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board to change the name of the new South Glasgow hospital.
"Naming the new hospital after a monarch is an affront to our democracy. The fundamental principle of democracy is the equality of all people.
"Considering the fundamental principle of monarchy is superiority of the monarch and their family over everyone else in society, we feel the naming of a public building after such a person is unacceptable."
One petitioner, Colin MacRaild, left the comment: "There are so many genuinely deserving people out there who have devoted their lives to help their fellows that it seems incredible we name these institutions after a family of spoilt, cosseted individuals who live in luxury at the expense of the very people who need the services in question.
"Surely it's time for us to grow up and see these people and their hangers on for what they are?"
An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spokeswoman said: "It was an honour for our staff and patients to have the queen officially open three magnificent new health care facilities which will benefit not only the people of Glasgow but the people of Scotland.
"It is also a privilege to be given the honour of royal title for these magnificent new buildings.”
