WHEN it was announced some months ago I thought the name "South Glasgow University Hospital" was clumsy and too long.

But to give the new hospital a new name only a few months into its life, without any consultation or advance notice to the public is nonsense ("Flagship hospitals win Royal seal of approval", The Herald, July 4). Why was it kept such a closely-guarded secret? Did those in charge suspect that the new name might not meet with universal approval? If so, they were right ("Protesters demand non-royal name for hospital", The Herald, July 6).

Glasgow is already awash with Victorias, Alberts, and Georges in statues, parks, street names and squares, and we have just built a new aircraft carrier named Elizabeth to go with three Cunard liners launched from Clydebank in the past 80 years. Do we really need another permanent reminder of the monarchy for the next 100 years, just because the Queen spent an hour of her time formally opening it?

And why does it have to have the word University included in the title? It was paid for by the taxpayers, not the university, and having special training facilities is hardly a justification. After all, medical students at all universities undergo practical training in hospitals, and they do not all have "university" included in their names.

I think I will just go on referring to the shiny new hospital as the "Southern General" and I suggest that all Glaswegians do likewise.

Iain AD Mann,

7 Kelvin Court, Glasgow.

I NOTE with dismay that our new hospital, paid for by taxpayers, will be named after an anachronism. In a modern age, is it not obsequious and nauseating to pay homage to the Queen and to continue to affirm that the pinnacle of our democracy is a family that costs us approximately £300m per year? Indeed, abolition of the monarchy could pay for this hospital in under three years.

Furthermore, the lateness of renaming our hospital has resulted in unnecessary additional cost to the taxpayer as all internal and external signage, only two months old, is being replaced. Headed notepaper and stationery will also be replaced with the new tribute. Workers and managers, who have sweated and strived for years to bring the new hospital to fruition can only gaze in wonder as hard-to-find money suddenly bursts forth like a cracked pipe to ensure one day goes well and that next year's honours lists have some new contenders.

Paul Cochrane,

10 Grants Way, Paisley.

YOU report that a small number of people are objecting to the Glasgow hospital being named Queen Elizabeth University. Why don't they ask for the ocean liner QEII to be renamed at the same time?

Iain Clarke,

35 Colquhoun Street,

Dumbarton.