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1804
The first infirmary in the Highlands, the Royal Northern Infirmary in Inverness, is established. This remains the only hospital in the Highlands for almost half a century until the Town and County Hospital is opened in Nairn in 1847.
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1845
The Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall, Orkney, admits its first patient.
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1845
The Poor Law (Scotland) Act is passed. This law updates the system of poor relief in Scotland. Supervision of relief moves from the Church of Scotland to lay parochial boards. A central Board of Supervision, based in Edinburgh, is established to oversee implementation of the Act, although without any powers to enforce or punish non-compliant parishes.
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1846
The Highlands Potato Famine begins. From 1846 until around 1856 repeated crop failures, caused by potato blight, leave the Highlands and Islands suffering food shortages, poverty and starvation. Many people move to the Lowlands or emigrate to America, Canada and New Zealand to escape the conditions at home.
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1852
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh publishes a report on the deficiencies of medical provision in the Highlands and Islands. This report is based on over 200 surveys completed by local doctors and church ministers and its findings show that only a third of parishes have a resident doctor.
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1865
The Belford Hospital in Fort William, Lochaber, admits its first patient.
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1884
The Napier Report is published. This is a royal commission and public inquiry into the condition of crofters and cottars in the Highlands and Islands. This report is a direct response to agitation, caused by high rents and insecure land tenures. Many of the recommendations of the report, including more long-term tenancies, are ignored.
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1885
The Scottish Office is created, as a department of the United Kingdom Government. It takes over responsibility for the Board of Supervision for Poor Relief, the Board of Commissioners in Lunacy, as well as a range of other local government bodies.
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1901
The Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick, Shetland, admits its first patient.
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1911
The National Insurance Act is passed, creating National Insurance – a system of health and unemployment insurance for industrial workers across Britain. Many people, including crofters in the Highlands and Islands, are too poor to make use of this system.
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1912
The Dewar Report is published. Its purpose is to investigate how to overcome the challenges of implementing the National Insurance Act of 1911 in rural communities. It details the failings of medical provision in the Highlands and Islands and makes a range of recommendations, including the reorganization of medical services under a single organization and a minimum salary for doctors.
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1913
The Highlands and Islands Medical Service is founded, as a direct result of the Dewar Report. This service includes state-funded GPs in rural communities and a network of community hospitals. The treatment provided is not free, but the costs are kept low and those who cannot afford to pay still receive treatment.
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1948
The National Health Service is launched by Minister of Health Aneurin Bevan. This nationalises the existing healthcare provision which is in place across Britain – including hospitals, doctors and nurses and the Highlands and Islands Medical Service. The NHS in Scotland is accountable to the Secretary of State for Scotland, rather than the Secretary of State for Health as in England and Wales.
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1972
The National Health Service (Scotland) Act is passed. This is the first major reorganization of the NHS in Scotland since 1948. It establishes health boards to take over many responsibilities from local authorities to try and better manage expanding patient numbers.
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1986
The Caithness General Hospital in Wick admits its first patient.
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1993
The Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway, Lewis, admits its first patient.
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1994
The Lorn and Islands Hospital in Argyll admits its first patient.
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1999
The devolved Scottish Parliament is created. Health and social care policy becomes the responsibility of this body.