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.

Quick Facts Geography, Location ...

Raigmore Hospital
NHS Highland
The tower at Raigmore Hospital
Shown in Inverness
Geography
Location	Inverness, Highland, Scotland
Coordinates	57.4736°N 4.1930°W / 57.4736; -4.1930
Organisation
Care system	NHS Scotland
Funding	Scottish Government
Type	Acute General
Affiliated university	University of Aberdeen University of Stirling
Services
Emergency department	Yes
Beds	452
Helipad	Yes
History
Opened	1941 (original site) 1970 (current development)
Links
Website	www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/Services/Pages/RaigmoreHospital.aspx

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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]

In 2004 a new emergency department was constructed.^[7] In the General Medical Council's 2014 National Trainee Survey the department was rated highly by trainee doctors who had worked there.^[8]

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]

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]

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]