NHS managers have admitted there are issues affecting staff morale in Scotland's newest hospital which need to be addressed.

Health board NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde sent an email to all staff acknowledging a range of problems at the £842 million South Glasgow University Hospital, with complaints including blocked toilets and a lack of places for staff to eat.

The message stressed these "teething" problems do not affect patient safety and it said there was agreement that services and patients in the Western Infirmary can transfer as planned into the new building this weekend.

Trade union Unison previously called for all further hospital closures in Glasgow to be put on hold, saying staff were "fire fighting" and they had concern about the impact on patients.

Robert Calderwood, chief executive, and other senior managers held an urgent meeting with Unison stewards to discuss the problems.

In the communication issued to staff after that meeting, NHS GGC said: "It was recognised, that there were a range of issues concerning staff that need addressed. These include ongoing issues such as blocked toilets, lighting failures in some areas of the hospital, dining room capacity and the need to speed up service in the restaurant as well as the need for better night-time catering."

There have been reports that the capacity of the current staff canteen in the SGUH is inadequate and that people bringing in their own lunches have not had anywhere to eat.

The staff memo added: "Other issues to be addressed include improvements to the staff locker-rooms and the need to offer further opportunities for staff orientation. It was recognised that more seating is required in the restaurant but also that the imminent opening of commercial food and drink outlets in the main atrium will alleviate some of the current pressures."

There are a number of major changes to the way staff work in the new building, including some office space being located outside the main hospital.

The memo said: "It was agreed that patient safety is always paramount and whilst these 'teething' issues did not affect patient safety, there was agreement that they did impact on staff morale.

"Unison have accepted assurances from the chief executive that patient safety is not at risk and as such have accepted that there is no reason why the planned migration of the Western Infirmary this weekend should not continue as planned."

Three hospitals are being centralised into the SGUH. Patients and staff from the Southern General and the Victoria Infirmary have already relocated and the Western Infirmary is due to follow. The Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill will move into its dedicated section of the building next month.

There have already been reports of patients waiting on trolleys and paramedics queuing to hand over patients to staff in the new SGUH emergency department. NHS GGC has indicated that it has taken steps to respond to these issues.

The board also says bringing over the Western Infirmary team will "achieve full clinical and support staffing levels which will assist in addressing some of the issues that have arisen over recent days".

Health Secretary Shona Robison faced questions about the wisdom of continuing with the Western closure earlier this week, but she said it was important that it went ahead.

The hospital is one of the biggest in Europe with single rooms for 1,109 adult patients.