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]
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]
Scottish Ambulance Service response car used by the PICT Team
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]
Highland Pre-Hospital Immediate Care and Trauma Team[edit]
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]
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]
AMaggie'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]
