Latest news with #Elanic
Daily Record
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Jason Leitch criticised over TikTok advert plugging private healthcare firm
EXCLUSIVE: Leitch, the former national clinical director, praised a "one of a kind" private hospital in Glasgow. Professor Jason Leitch has been criticised after he appeared in an online advert promoting a private healthcare firm at a time Scotland's NHS continues to struggle. In a video shared on TikTok and Instagram, the country's former national clinical director praised a "one of a kind" private hospital recently opened in central Glasgow by Elanic Medical. Leitch, who helped lead Scotland's response to the covid pandemic, is a non-executive director with a focus on clinical governance at the healthcare firm. Elanic has an established cosmetic surgery clinic in Glasgow but has now built a 15,000 sq ft hospital in Bath Street to provide more routine operations. Leitch became a household name when he regularly stood alongside Nicola Sturgeon as the then first minister delivered her daily covid briefings in 2020 and 2021. He announced he was stepping down as national clinical director in March 2024, shortly after he gave evidence at the UK Covid the social media ad, Leitch said: "I'm on the board here at Elanic. I'm responsible, along with a host of other people, for the safety and governance of the care and services here. It's fantastic to be back at the Elanic hospital and see it fully functioning, with loads of specialties now, seeing patients on a daily basis. "Orthopaedics, plastic surgery, urology, gynaecology, bariatric surgery - all getting care and service right in the centre of Glasgow with real state of the art operating theatres." Leitch continued: "It's fantastic to see Elanic at the forefront of modern care. It's now becoming routine for patients to go home on the same day and that's no different here, particularly for orthopaedics. "It's been terrific to see this project from the plans on a piece of paper to what is now a state of the art facility in central Glasgow. I think it's probably one of a kind, with operating theatres, outpatient clinics, and bedrooms with en suite facilities. It's fantastic to see it grow from the architects' drawings right up to what is now a fully functioning hospital." Alba MSP Ash Regan said some Scots would be left feeling "scunnered" after seeing a former senior NHS figure promoting a private healthcare firm. She told the Record: "Jason Leitch built his public profile during the pandemic as Scotland's national clinical director as a trusted voice at the heart of our NHS. "Seeing him fronting TikTok adverts for a private healthcare company, where he sits on the board, sends a deeply mixed message about the Government's priorities and commitment to our NHS. "The public is rightly scunnered. Time and again, we see the revolving door for those paid by the public purse to lead and represent public services going on to use that platform to cash in on private interests." Leitch faced criticism during the UK Covid Inquiry last year over the mass deletion of his WhatsApp messages. One message which was retrieved showed him saying: "WhatsApp deletion is a pre-bed ritual." When asked about the comments, he said: "It's an exaggeration. I didn't daily delete my WhatsApp." A spokeswoman for Elanic Medical said: "We believe that only by working together can the private sector effectively support the NHS in reducing waiting times and improving patient outcomes. "As of March 2025, over 559,000 patients in Scotland were still waiting for outpatient appointments, with more than 63,000 waiting over a year, and over 5,200 waiting more than two years—the highest number ever recorded. These figures highlight the urgent need for collaborative solutions to ease the burden on the NHS and ensure timely access to care." The Record asked the Scottish Government for comment.
The Herald Scotland
06-05-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Glasgow hospital praised for incredible hip and knee surgery results
Only 25-years-old and struggling to work, the wait was too much for David who contacted the new Elanic Hospital in Glasgow which was able to carry out the surgery shortly later. Now recovering well after Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery, David has no regrets about his decision. 'I couldn't wait,' he said. 'I tried to last until Christmas but when I came back to work after the break my knees were in agony every time I was working. 'As a very active young person, going to Elanic was 100 per cent worth it for me.' David had also just completed his four year apprenticeship and was keen to keep working. 'I didn't want to waste that,' he said. 'I'm still relatively young but after a 76 week wait I would be touching 27 and could be at a completely different stage in my life so I did not want to leave it too long.' Elanic was able to set him up with a payment plan he could manage and the surgery was carried out just two weeks after his consultation. He is now recovering well and hopes to be back at work within 12 weeks. He has been told he can return to football in nine to 12 months and perhaps resume his place in amateur teams Barrhead United and Weirs Recreational. Having never been in hospital before, David admits he was apprehensive before the experience but now can't praise the team at Elanic highly enough. 'I've never had anaesthetic and never stayed the night in a hospital so I was nervous about that but the staff were brilliant with me,' he said. 'When I woke up I was initially worried because I didn't know where I was or what was happening but they really reassured me. 'Everyone was very attentive and constantly checking on me. The doctor came in at 7am the next morning to make sure everything was okay and the physio I was partnered with came in at 9am to see how I was and then came back at 12pm to show me how to walk with crutches. I was in just over 24 hours and that was me sorted and back out again.' Elanic is the first private hospital in Glasgow city centre to offer overnight stays. Officially welcoming its first patients in February this year, the state-of-the-art facility combines cutting-edge technology with luxury patient care. 'Everything was brand new and so up to date,' said David. 'My surgeon was Colin Drury and he was brilliant – really attentive and he phoned me after to make sure everything was ok'.' The clinic checks his progress regularly and has set him up with a physio programme with Glasgow Premier Physio. 'They have been brilliant with me as well,' said David. 'I'm just back to driving this week and I've been able to get to the gym so it is going well. 'I still can't turn my knee in certain angles and if I do it in my sleep then I do feel the pain, but otherwise the difference is unbelievable. Before the surgery I had been walking about with two different sized knees since 2023. 'I wasn't able to play football and as a floorlayer by trade I was on my knees all day so it has been hard work. I had a lot of painful days and I was just trying to get through it but I did have spells of being off work. 'One time I had been working all day and when I came home I sat in the couch for an hour but when I tried to stand up I couldn't and had to take time off work for another three weeks.' Colin Drury, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, said: 'The new Elanic hospital has been an excellent facility for performing orthopaedic knee surgical procedures. The clinic is well set up for patient comfort but also facilitates swift access to diagnostic imaging. The personnel in the hospital are well experienced with orthopaedic surgery from the nursing staff on the ward and the theatre nursing team, to the anaesthetists who are all ensuring patients are recovering as well as possible from their surgery'. Elanic specialises in a wide range of elective services including orthopaedics, bariatrics, cosmetic procedures, gynaecology, urology and general surgery. Located in the newly revitalised landmark Brutalist building in the heart of Glasgow, the 15,000 square feet purpose-built facility is designed to provide timely, efficient, and world-class medical treatment. The hospital's commitment to innovation is reflected in its three state-of-the-art operating theatres, including an orthopaedic ultra-clean laminar flow theatre, which is designed to ensure the highest standards of safety and surgical precision. These modern facilities are combined with a higher nurse-to-patient ratio with the aim of facilitating faster recovery times while enhancing the level of care and improving patient outcomes. Doctors and nurses are fully registered and accredited and take pride in providing exceptional care. The hospital contains air-conditioned bedrooms with high-dependency functionality to provide both comfort and safety for patients recovering from surgery. Elanic Hospital is an expansion of Elanic Clinic, which has been undertaking day surgery in Glasgow City Centre for the last 13 years. The hospital itself is the only private hospital in Glasgow's City Centre which accommodates both day surgery patients and overnight inpatients. It is also one of the only hospitals in Scotland which offers day case surgical pathways for both hip and knee replacements. Current prices for ACL surgery are £6,995. Hip and knee replacement surgery £9,995. Book before the end of May and receive £50 off your initial consultation with the Spring Into Motion Campaign. To find out more visit Elanic Hospital also has a free patient hip and knee patient event on 22nd May. To register go to
