Raigmore Hospital

Raigmore Hospital
NHS Highland
Geography
Location Inverness, Highland, Scotland
Organisation
Care system NHS Scotland
Funding Scottish Government
Hospital type Acute General
Affiliated university University of Aberdeen
University of Stirling
Services
Emergency department Yes
Helipad Yes
Beds 452
History
Founded 1941 (original site)
1970 (current development)
Links
Website NHS Highland: Raigmore Hospital

Raigmore Hospital (Scottish Gaelic: Ospadal an Rathaig Mhòir) is the largest hospital in the NHS Highland Health Board, located in Inverness, Scotland. It serves patients from the local area as well providing specialist services to patients from across NHS Highland area. It is a teaching hospital, educating a range of healthcare professionals in association with the Universities of Aberdeen and Stirling.

History

Raigmore has been a hospital site since 1941, when a temporary hospital was built as one of the 7 new Emergency Hospital Service facilities. The single storey wartime wards continued to be used for a further three decades, until the construction of the present buildings. Amongst other medical services supplied during this period, the hospital provided the main maternity unit for the Highlands. In 1970 the first of a series of new buildings were opened, including accident and emergency, radiology and radiotherapy, laboratory, out-patient services and medical departments.[1]

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), Hilton Hospital (closed 1987) 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).

Services

There are 452 beds in the hospital, mostly in the 8-storey tower building.[1]

The hospital has 9 operating theatres.[2] In October 2014 the board agreed a £26m plan to refurbish the existing operating theatres and add a 10th.[3]

Specialist units

The hospital has a 32-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.[1]

Baby-friendly hospital

Raigmore Hospital has approximately 1726 births per year and has full accreditation as baby friendly, since November 2005.[4]

Admissions Lounge

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.[5]

The infusion suite

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, with a team of dedicated staff providing this care.[6]

Citizens advice

The hospital has had its own onsite citizen’s advice office since 2003.[7][8]

Hospital developments

Emergency Department

In 2004 a new emergency department was constructed.[9] In the General Medical Council's 2014 National Trainee Survey the department was rated highly by trainee doctors who had worked there.[10]

Wyvis Suite

The Wyvis Suite opened in 2007 following a £600 thousand 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.[11]

Radiotherapy machines

As part of a national replacement programme, the first of 2 new radiotherapy machines arrived in 2009.[12]

Day service unit extension

Pick Everard were selected by NHS Highland to build a new day service unit extension onto the hospital site.[13] Head consultant and architect, Keppie Design were chosen to assist in the mechanical and electrical engineering and building work side of the project. The new unit, to provide specialist renal and endoscopy departments, was expected to open to patients in 2009. In 2011 some delays to this schedule were announced.[14]

Charitable organisations associated

Maggie's Centre

A Maggie's Centre, Maggie's Highlands, can also be found beside Raigmore Hospital. Maggie's Highlands was opened officially on 7 June 2005 by the Scottish Health Minister, Andy Kerr, and Carol McGregor. The centre provides free support and information to anyone affected by cancer.

The building, which won the RIAS Andrew Doolan Award for Architecture in 2006,[15] was designed by Scottish architectural firm Page\Park Architects and its gardens were designed by landscape architect and designer Charles Jencks.[16]

(Registered charity number: SC 024414)

Inverness Hospital Radio

The hospital is served by the volunteer run radio station, Inverness Hospital Radio, 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[17] and received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2012.[18]

(Registered charity number SC 007993)

Friends of Raigmore

The Friends of Raigmore are a group of volunteers who aim to improve hospital facilities for patients and staff.[19]

(Registered charity number SC 017742)

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Raigmore Hospital". NHS Highland. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  2. "NHS board urged to seek government funding for Raigmore improvements". STV News (STV). 24 June 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  3. Kerr, David (8 October 2014). "Extra operating theatre approved in revamp of Raigmore". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  4. "Baby Friendly accreditation: Raigmore Hospital". Baby Friendly Initiative. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  5. paterson, h (17 August 2010). "Raigmore to recruit additional surgeon following overtime ban". Inverness Courier. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  6. Lowne, Rosemary (1 June 2011). "Planned new day centre at Raigmore hospital delayed". Inverness Courier. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  7. "The role of the Citizens Advice Bureau in supporting health care". Nursing Times 100 (36): 26. 7 September 2004.
  8. "Find a CAB: Inverness Badenoch & Strathspey CAB - Raigmore Hospital Extension". Citizens Advice Scotland. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  9. "Recent projects: health". McGregor Construction (Highlands) Ltd. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  10. McKenzie, Jamie (20 August 2014). "Raigmore’s emergency department “best to work in”". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  11. "Official opening of Wyvis Suite" (Press release). NHS Highland. 1 November 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  12. "Highland hospital get new radiotherapy machine". STV News (STV). 15 January 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  13. "Day Services Unit for Raigmore Hospital" (Press release). Pick Everard. 14 January 2008. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014.
  14. "Planned new day centre at Raigmore hospital delayed". BBC News (BBC). 14 February 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  15. "Care centre awarded design prize". BBC News. 17 November 2006.
  16. "Maggie's Highlands: Architecture and Design". Maggie's Centres. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  17. "Inverness Hospital Radio History". Inverness Hospital Radio. Retrieved 30 May 2014. Specials character in |publisher= at position 1 (help); line feed character in |title= at position 26 (help)
  18. "The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2012" (PDF). London Gazette. 1 June 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2014. Specials character in |title= at position 1 (help)
  19. "The friends". Friends of Raigmore. Retrieved 4 January 2015.

External links

Coordinates: 57°28′25″N 4°11′35″W / 57.4736°N 4.1930°W / 57.4736; -4.1930

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