Leith Hospital facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leith Hospital |
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| NHS Lothian | |
Leith Hospital from Mill Lane
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 Location in Edinburgh
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| Geography | |
| Location | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 55°58′28″N 3°10′43″W / 55.9745269°N 3.1786133°W |
| Organisation | |
| Care system | NHS Scotland |
| Services | |
| Emergency department | No |
| History | |
| Founded | 1851 |
| Closed | 1987 |
Leith Hospital was a hospital in Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland. It had many different departments, including wards for adults and children, a place for emergencies, and various clinics. The hospital helped the community for many years before it closed in 1987.
Contents
History of Leith Hospital
How Leith Hospital Started
Before Leith Hospital, there was the King James Hospital, founded in 1614. It was named after King James VI. This older hospital was taken down in 1822.
Later, in 1816, a small clinic called a dispensary opened in Leith. It was started by Dr. Andrew Duncan. This dispensary offered a consulting room and a single bed for patients. In 1825, it joined with another group to form the Leith Dispensary and Humane Society. By 1837, they moved to a bigger building, which became like a small emergency hospital.
By the 1840s, Leith was a growing town with about 40,000 people. There was a strong need for a proper hospital. In 1846, people met and decided to build "The Leith Hospital." They started collecting money, and a lot of donations came in. It took several years to find the best place and begin building.
The new hospital was planned by local leaders, doctors, and business people. They bought land in 1849. The hospital building had two floors. Patients with fevers were on the top floor, and the dispensary and emergency services were on the ground floor. Leith Hospital officially opened its doors to patients in 1851.
The Early Years of Care
The local community in Leith helped a lot to fund the hospital. Leith Hospital took over the work of the earlier emergency hospital and dispensary. One of the first doctors was James Scarth Combe. He was known for describing a blood condition called pernicious anaemia in 1822.
In 1866, the hospital hired its first district nurse, Mrs. Brown. Her job was to visit patients at home and make sure they followed the doctors' orders. She also taught families how to care for sick people and keep things clean. She was very dedicated and made 13,000 home visits in 1877 alone.
The hospital grew over time. More parts were added in 1873 and 1888. In 1903, a large new section for surgery was opened. This was built to celebrate Queen Victoria’s jubilee. It was connected to the nurses' home across the street by an underground tunnel.
Teaching Future Doctors
Leith Hospital also became a place for medical students to learn. In 1887, the hospital allowed female medical students from the Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women to come for training. This school was started by Sophia Jex-Blake.
However, in 1888, an issue arose. Some students stayed at the hospital past the allowed time. Sophia Jex-Blake dismissed two of them. This led to a public disagreement. Because of this and other challenges, the Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women closed in 1898.
The 20th Century at Leith Hospital
By the early 1900s, Leith Hospital was a modern and busy place. It was able to meet the health needs of the people it served. Another hospital, the East Pilton Fever Hospital, opened in 1896, which helped reduce the pressure on beds at Leith.
The First World War brought great sadness to Leith. In May 1916, the Quintinshill rail disaster happened. This was Britain's worst train accident, killing 226 people. Most of them were soldiers from Leith on their way to fight.
After the war, the community decided to build a children's wing for Leith Hospital as a war memorial. Fundraising began in 1919. Many people gave money to honor family members lost in the war. The new children's building opened in January 1927. In 1935, the Duke and Duchess of Kent visited the new wing.
In 1948, Leith Hospital became part of the new National Health Service (NHS). This meant healthcare became free for everyone.
Closure of Leith Hospital
Leith Hospital closed its doors for good in 1987. People in the community protested and signed petitions to keep it open, but it was sold. The buildings were then changed into homes. Six years later, a new place called the Leith Community Treatment Centre opened. It offered some health services, but not as many as the old hospital.
In 2011, a group published a book called Leith Hospital Recalled. It was a collection of memories from people who worked or were treated at the hospital. A play based on these stories was also performed in 2012.
Notable Staff
Many important people worked at Leith Hospital, including:
- Thomas Addison
- Edwin Bramwell
- John Coldstream
- James Scarth Combe
- Thomas Latta
- A. A. Scot Skirving
- Thomas Williamson
- Andrew Russell Murray
