Care system NHS Scotland Emergency department Minor injuries unit | Hospital type General Founded 1864 | |
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Location Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Website NHS Grampian - Chalmers Hospital - Banff | ||
Chalmers Hospital is an NHS general hospital located in Banff, Scotland, a small coastal town around 46.5 miles north west of Aberdeen.
Contents
History
Chalmers Hospital was founded by Alexander Chalmers (died 11 August 1835), a merchant of Banff, who left the whole of his estate to be applied, upon the death of his wife, towards funding and building a hospital for the people in the Royal Burgh of Banff. Mrs Chalmers died in 1861, and on 19 July 1864 Chalmers Hospital opened. The original 'deed of mortification' set out that this was for any destitute sick persons born, domiciled or resident in the Banff area, although in 1929 the trustees successfully petitioned to this restriction.
Services/wards
The hospital is supported by GPs from Banff, Gamrie, Deveron, Macduff, Portsoy and Aberchirder Medical Practices.
Chalmers Hospital has four in-patient wards: Seafield; Deveron; Findlater; and Midwifery. Chalmers provides an extensive range of clinics, these include, surgical, gynaecology audiology, orthopaedics, child development, psychiatry, respiratory, diabetic dietician, ophthalmology, dermatology, teledermatology, urology, radiotherapy, gastroenterology, obstetrics, and minor surgery.
The hospital has a 24-hour Minor injuries unit with a telemedicine link to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary's Accident and Emergency Unit. Chalmers Hospital works closely with Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI), and uses air transport regularly.
Redevelopment
Chalmers Hospital went through major redevelopment work which was complete in February 2012. The work began in October 2008, after the hospital attracted criticism for not being up to date, with some of the interior features having been there since World War II. The hospital remained open during the work, although the Findlater ward services were moved to Campbell Hospital in Portsoy until refurbished, and Seafield and Deveron ward have been merged. The Midwifery unit was to be demolished and rebuilt to provide modern facilities. Numerous other internal changes were also made inside, including X-ray facilities being moved to a different area of the building. The redevelopment also provided upgraded facilities for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and podiatry.