Glen o' Dee Hospital
| Glen o' Dee Hospital | |
|---|---|
| NHS Grampian | |
 The original building, pictured in 2012 | |
  Shown in Aberdeenshire | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Banchory, Aberdeenshire, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 57°3′40″N 2°31′11″W / 57.06111°N 2.51972°W |
| Organisation | |
| Care system | NHS |
| Type | Community |
| Services | |
| Emergency department | No |
| History | |
| Opened | 1900 |
| Links | |
| Website | NHS Grampian - Glen o' Dee Hospital - Banchory |
| Lists | Hospitals in Scotland |
Glen o' Dee Hospital is situated in the west end of Banchory, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is a small community hospital that provides services for the population of Royal Deeside supported by local GPs. It is managed by NHS Grampian.
History
The original building was commissioned as a sanctuary for tuberculosis patients[1] and opened as Nordrach on Dee Hospital[2] in 1900.[3]
When tuberculosis died down it served as a luxury hotel (when it became "Glen o' Dee"), but was taken over during the Second World War to serve as a billet for troops.[4] In 1955 it became a convalescent hospital.[5] It reprised its role in contagious diseases when a typhoid epidemic hit nearby Aberdeen in the 1960s, but its last use was as a residential home for the elderly before it closed in 1998.[4]
The original building was featured on the BBC's Restoration programme and, although local people compaigned to have it restored, it continued to sit empty and deteriorating.[6] The building was badly damaged by fire on 14 October 2016 with police treating the incident as wilful fire-raising.[4]
A small modern community hospital staffed by GPs now operates on the site.[7] A befriending service was established at the community hospital in 2013 matching older patients ready to be discharged, but lacking confidence to return home, with a volunteer befriender. The volunteers then visit the older patients regularly in hospital and at home after discharge, offering on-going emotional and practical support. Local GPs reported the service had improved the overall health and wellbeing of their patients and reduced the number of medically unnecessary GP visits.[8]
Robert Young Keers FRSE was Superintendent of the facility from around 1950 to 1957.[9]
References
- ^ "Glen o' Dee hospital". Banchory Group Practice. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
- ^ "Nordrach-on-Dee Hospital". Dictionary of Scottish Architects. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
- ^ "Community hospitals: Glen o' Dee Hospital - Banchory". NHS Grampian. 8 March 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
- ^ a b c "Historic Glen o' Dee hospital in Banchory destroyed by 'wilful' fire". BBC News. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
- ^ "Anger as A-listed building is sold for luxury flats". The Scotsman. 7 October 2003. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
- ^ "Boys aged 13 charged over Glen o' Dee hospital fire in Banchory". BBC. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
- ^ "Glen o' Dee Community Hospital". Banchory Group Practice. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
- ^ "Befriending project helps older people after discharge". Kincardineshire Observer. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
- ^ Edinburgh Medical Journal 1982