A generous gift with a link to the past

We are deeply grateful to Sandy Hutchison and his fellow trustees for choosing Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity as one of the beneficiaries of the sale of Balmanno House, following the closure of the care home.

This generous gift carries a profound connection to the history of the children’s hospital in Glasgow. Sandy’s father, Professor James Holmes Hutchison CBE, was a towering figure in paediatric medicine whose pioneering work shaped the standards of child healthcare in Glasgow and beyond.

Professor Hutchison served as Physician-in-Charge of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in 1947, later becoming the Samson Gemmell Chair of Child Health during the time that the hospital was being rebuilt at Yorkhill, and consultant at the Queen Mother’s Maternity Hospital.

His groundbreaking research on childhood tuberculosis and inherited metabolic disorders, his leadership in developing community paediatrics, and his authorship of ‘Practical Paediatric Problems’ left an indelible mark on generations of clinicians and patients alike.

We are honoured to receive this donation, which reflects Professor Hutchison’s lifelong commitment to the health and wellbeing of children. His legacy of leadership, research, and advocacy transformed paediatric care in Glasgow and beyond, and this generous gift ensures that his impact will continue to be felt for generations to come.