| Administrative History | The need for a local hospital had long been felt at Insch, Aberdeenshire. Several attempts had been made at establishing one and a number of legacies had been left towards that aim. It was not until the question of a War Memorial was raised, however, that the Parish Councils of Insch, Premnay, Leslie, Chapel of Garioch, Oyne and Culsalmond decided to erect a Cottage Hospital. Colonel Milne was appointed Chairman of the Executive Council (a position he held until his death in 1937), Dr George Mitchell was appointed Resident Medical Officer, and a site was gifted by Mr Leith Hay (1858-1939) of Leith Hall.
The hospital, which contained four male and four female beds, three maternity beds and an operating theatre, was opened in 1922 by Sir Napier Burnett. As early as 1929 the need to increase the nurses' accommodation was raised and the plans for this were approved in 1931 at an estimated cost of £450. In 1933 the new Nurses' Home was built and the previous accommodation converted for patient care.
Insch Hospital benefited strongly from gifts and legacies. There was a steady increase in the Endowment Fund and almost invariably a favourable balance in the yearly accounts. In 1936 the funds received a further boost by a legacy of £5,000 left to the hospital by Mr Peter Scatterty.
In 1945 more additions and alterations were proposed but although these were approved in 1947, the scheme fell through due to the establishment of the National Health Service. From 1948 Insch was part of the West Aberdeenshire Hospitals Board of Management. On the dissolution of the Board in 1964 it was absorbed by the Aberdeen Special Hospitals Board of Management. After re-organisation in 1974, Insch and District War Memorial Hospital became part of the North District of Grampian Health Board. |
| Description | Minutes, 1919 - 1948; case notes, register of admissions and discharges, etc. (some indexed), 1922 - 1972; annual reports, official guide to Insch, etc., 1922 - 1945. |