Highlands and Islands Medical Service facts for kids
The Highlands and Islands Medical Service (HIMS) was a special healthcare system in Scotland. It started in 1913 and provided medical care to people living in the remote areas of the Scottish Highlands and Islands. This region covers about half of Scotland's land! HIMS helped people get the medical attention they needed until the National Health Service (NHS) began in 1948.
Even though HIMS wasn't completely free like the NHS is today, the fees were very low. This meant that people could still get treatment even if they couldn't afford to pay much. It was a big step towards making sure everyone had access to doctors and nurses.
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Why HIMS Was Needed
Before HIMS, getting medical help in the Highlands and Islands was very difficult. Many people lived far from doctors or hospitals. A special report, called the "Dewar Report" in 1912, showed just how bad the situation was. It found that there weren't enough doctors or nurses in these remote areas.
This report suggested a new way to provide healthcare. The idea was for the government to help pay for medical services. This would make sure that doctors could afford to live and work in these distant places.
How HIMS Helped Doctors
The HIMS plan was simple but effective. Doctors would be guaranteed a basic salary, which helped them financially. They would also get money back for their travel costs, which was important because they often had to travel long distances to see patients.
In return, doctors had important jobs to do:
- They had to visit everyone who needed help, no matter where they lived.
- They helped with public health, like preventing diseases.
- They worked with schools to check on children's health.
- They helped mothers during childbirth.
- They had to make sure they had good ways to travel, like cars or boats.
Expanding Healthcare Services
HIMS didn't just help doctors. It also worked to improve other parts of healthcare:
- More nurses were hired, and places for them to live were built.
- Hospitals and specialists (doctors who focus on one area, like surgeons) received support from the government.
- Ambulances were bought to help transport sick people.
A group of people called a Board managed the service. Sir John Dewar was the first leader of this Board. They estimated that they would need more doctors and new houses for them. The government gave them £42,000 each year to run the service.
Early Days of HIMS
The Highlands and Islands Medical Service had a slow start. One of its first achievements was sending a nurse to St Kilda, a very remote island. However, the First World War (1914-1918) made it hard for the service to grow quickly. During the war, HIMS mainly focused on paying doctors' salaries and travel costs.
After the war, in 1919, the Scottish Board of Health took over managing HIMS. Over time, the service really started to make a difference. It successfully provided good medical care to people and helped doctors stay in the area.
Later, HIMS grew even more:
- It started supporting specialist surgeons and physicians (doctors who treat illnesses).
- A special laboratory was set up in Inverness for medical tests.
- In 1936, HIMS even started the first air ambulance service to the outer islands! This was a huge help for emergencies in very remote places.
The success of HIMS inspired other places. The Frontier Nursing Service in Kentucky, United States, and Newfoundland's Cottage Hospital System were both based on the HIMS model.
Key Moments in HIMS History
Here are some important dates for the Highlands and Islands Medical Service:
- 1910: The Dewar Report was published, showing how bad medical care was in the Highlands and Islands.
- 1913: The Highlands and Islands Medical Service officially began.
- 1914: Doctors started getting help with travel costs, and a nurse was sent to St Kilda.
- 1919: The Scottish Board of Health took control of HIMS.
- 1924: The first specialist doctor (a surgeon) was appointed for Stornoway Hospital.
- 1929: Many District Nursing Associations were set up, employing 175 nurses.
- 1933: The first air ambulance journey took place, from Islay to Glasgow.
- 1936: An air ambulance service was set up for the Western Isles.
- 1936: The Cathcart Report stated that HIMS had "revolutionised medical provision in the Highlands."
- 1948: The National Health Service (NHS) took over from HIMS, providing free healthcare for everyone in Scotland.
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