| Stracathro Hospital | |
| NHS Tayside | |
|---|---|
| Geography | |
| Location | near Brechin, Angus, Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Organisation | |
| Care system | Public NHS |
| Hospital type | District Hospital |
| Services | |
| Emergency department | No Accident & Emergency |
| Links | |
| Website | http://www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk/patients/hospital/STRACATH_HOSP.shtml |
| Lists | Hospitals in the United Kingdom |
Stracathro Hospital is a General Hospital in NE Angus, Scotland. Established as a wartime hospital, it became a District General Hospital and, since 2005 has been the site of the Scottish Regional Treatment Centre.
Stracathro Hospital was established in 1939 in the grounds of Stracathro House.[1] It was designed as an Emergency Medical Services Hospital, for military casualties of World War II. The single-storey wards could accommodate up to 1000 patients and the mansion house provided accommodation for staff.[1] The first patients were victims of an air raid on Montrose in 1940. These were followed by civilian casualties from English cities, including London, Birmingham and Coventry, and later by soldiers from all theatres of the war.[1] Long trains would deliver the wounded to Brechin station.[2]
The hospital subsequently became a teaching hospital and later a rural general hospital, serving a population of about 110,230,[3] with specialised departments including orthopaedic surgery and a high-tech surgical appliance unit.
In 1998, almost overnight, emergency general surgery was moved to Ninewells Hospital.[3] This threatened the future of the hospital, and led to speculation over its closure. The Tayside Acute Services Review in 2001 recommended a new hospital in Angus.[3] An external review recommended continuation of some local services. The closure of the coronary care unit led to a paramedic-led thrombolysis service in the community.[3] Stracathro continues as a rural General Hospital for Angus, part of NHS Tayside.
In 2005, the Scottish Regional Treatment Centre was developed at Stracathro.[4]. This is a joint venture between the NHS and the private sector and included £15 million funding from the Scottish Executive.[1] The SRTC caters for NHS patients from Grampian, Tayside and Fife Health Boards.[3]
Stracathro House was sold in 2003 and has reverted to a private residence.[1]