Edinburgh Orthopaedic Trauma Unit
History of the Royal Infirmary
In 1729 The Edinburgh Infirmary opened as a charitable institution for the relief of the sick poor. Subscriptions came from many sources and the Infirmary had particularly strong support from Edinburgh Town Council through the Lord Provost, George Drummond, and from the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Surgeons.
The medical faculty of the University of Edinburgh was established in 1726 and the teaching of medical students was an important aspect of the Royal Infirmary from the beginning. The Royal Charter was granted in 1736. The School of Nursing was established in 1872 in accordance with the principles laid down by Florence Nightingale.
The Royal Infirmary moved to its present site in 1879, designed to have the medical hospital situated on the south side and the surgical hospital on the north, with common support services in the middle. Further expansion and extensions were completed in the 1930’s to allow for new and growing services and departments.
In 1948 the Infirmary ceased to be a voluntary hospital and became past of the NHS and from 1974, became a Directly Managed Unit of the Lothian Health Board. As from 1 April 1994 the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and Associated Hospitals Unit was granted Trust status and became the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust. Chalmers Hospital was also a voluntary hospital, opened in 1894. It came under the Infirmary’s management in 1970.
The Edinburgh Dental Hospital was opened in 1860, becoming established as the Edinburgh Dental Hospital and School in 1878. The Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion was opened in 1969. The Princess Margaret Rose Orthopaedic Hospital was the first purely orthopaedic hospital to be opened in Scotland, originally planned as a centre for the treatment of crippled children. It was opened in June 1932. The City Hospital was opened on its present site in 1903 and closed during 1997. Services will be transferred to Royal Infirmary and Western General Hospital.
The Infirmary and its associated hospitals throughout their whole history to the present day have established a world-wide reputation in the fields of clinical practice, teaching and innovations in medical techniques. The Edinburgh Orthopaedic Trauma Unit moved to the New Royal Infirmary on 1st May 2003.
©Edinburgh Orthopaedic Trauma Unit 2007