Raigmore Hospital | |
---|---|
NHS Highland | |
![]() The tower at Raigmore Hospital | |
Geography | |
Location | Inverness, Highland, Scotland |
Coordinates | 57°28′25″N 4°11′35″W / 57.4736°N 4.1930°W |
Organisation | |
Care system | NHS Scotland |
Funding | Scottish Government |
Type | Acute General |
Affiliated university |
University of Aberdeen University of Stirling |
Services | |
Emergency department | Yes |
Beds | 452 |
Helipad | Yes |
History | |
Opened | 1941 (original site) 1970 (current development) |
Links | |
Website |
www |
Raigmore Hospital ( Scottish Gaelic: Ospadal an Rathaig Mhòir) is a health facility located in Inverness, Scotland. It serves patients from the local area as well as providing specialist services to patients from across the Highland area. It is a teaching hospital, educating a range of healthcare professionals in association with the Universities of Aberdeen and Stirling. It is managed by NHS Highland.
The hospital has its origins in a temporary facility which was built by James Campbell & Sons on part of the Raigmore House estate, as one of the seven new Emergency Hospital Service facilities, in 1941. [1] The single storey wartime wards continued to be used for a further three decades, until the construction of the present buildings. A maternity facility was added in 1947 and the hospital joined the National Health Service in 1948. [1]
In 1962 an announcement was made that a modern district general hospital would be provided at Raigmore. [2] The new facilities were designed by J. Gleave & Partners and the first phase, which included radiology and radiotherapy, laboratory, out-patient services and medical departments, opened in 1970. [3] A second phase, which included the main tower block with operating theatres, opened in 1985. [4]
The hospital has progressively taken over the provision of some or all of the services previously performed by older hospitals in Inverness including Culduthel Hospital (closed 1989), [5] Hilton Hospital (closed 1987) [5] and the Royal Northern Infirmary (since 1999 the location of a newer Community hospital with the main building now used by the University of the Highlands and Islands). [6]
In 2004 a new emergency department was constructed. [7] In the General Medical Council's 2014 National Trainee Survey the department was rated highly by trainee doctors who had worked there. [8]
The Wyvis Suite opened in 2007 following a £600,000 refurbishment project. It provided a new home for the re-located nurse-led pre-op assessment unit and the cardiac ultrasound service. These facilities had increased service capacity and allowed more direct and rapid access. [9]
As part of a national replacement programme, the first of two new radiotherapy machines arrived in 2009. [10]
An appeal had been launched in March 2011 to refurbish the Children's ward, but the £1m target was quickly reached so a decision was taken to extend the target and create a new unit. [11] In June 2016 a new children's ward was opened with a 30-bed inpatient area. [12]
In March 2016, £28m was put towards a three-year programme to upgrade the hospital's critical care areas and operating theatres. [13]
There are 452 beds in the hospital, mostly in the 8-storey tower building. [3] The hospital has 9 operating theatres. [14] In October 2014 the board agreed a £26m plan to refurbish the existing operating theatres and add a 10th. [15]
Raigmore hosts the award winning Highland PICT Team. [16] [17] This is a specialist prehospital response team based out of the Emergency Department and providing enhanced care across the Highlands. [18] [19] PICT currently operates 12 hours per day, seven days a week. They respond to around 150 patients a month, attending a range of 999 calls. [20] The team utilise advanced interventions such as portable ultrasound to assess and treat casualties. [21]
The hospital has a 30-bed Paediatric unit, where in-patient care in Medical Paediatrics; Oral Surgery, ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) unit and Child and Family Psychiatry are based. Raigmore also contains a 57-bed maternity unit; specialist services such as cystic fibrosis, cardiology and rheumatology and the Birnie Child Development Centre for children with learning difficulties and special needs. [3]
Raigmore Hospital has approximately 2077 births per year and has full accreditation as baby friendly, since November 2005. [22]
In 2010 an Admissions Lounge was added, located on first floor of the tower. This is a pre-operative waiting area to accommodate patients coming in on the day of their planned surgery. [23]
In 2011 a new service began that allows patients to attend as outpatients to get medication through a drip. This meant that several patients could be getting treatment at the same time. [24]
The hospital has had its own onsite citizen's advice office since 2003. [25] [26]
A Maggie's Centre, Maggie's Highlands, (registered charity number: SC 024414) can also be found beside Raigmore Hospital. The building, which won the RIAS Andrew Doolan Award for Architecture in 2006, [27] was designed by Scottish architectural firm Page\Park Architects and its gardens were designed by landscape architect and designer Charles Jencks. [28] It was opened officially by the Scottish Health Minister, Andy Kerr, and Carol McGregor on 7 June 2005. [29]
The hospital is served by the volunteer-run radio station, Inverness Hospital Radio, (registered charity number SC 007993) which has a studio located on the ground floor of the main building. They welcome requests and dedications for patients, and broadcast 7 days a week. The station has been in service since 2 November 1970 [30] and received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2012. [31]
The Friends of Raigmore (registered charity number SC 017742) are a group of volunteers who aim to improve hospital facilities for patients and staff. [32]
Labour Party politician Robin Cook (1946–2005) died there after suffering from hypertensive disease while on a two-week holiday in the Scottish Highlands with his wife Gaynor. [33]