THURSDAY, 9 JULY, 2015

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NHS Tayside celebrates 100 years of Perth Royal Infirmary

A commemorative book celebrating 100 years of Perth Royal Infirmary (PRI) is still available to buy as the year marking the centenary comes to an end.

Dundee locality portering services team lead Bruce Leckie (formerly of PRI Support Services) has produced a book documenting the hospital and the royal opening of PRI.

Any profits from the sale of the book will be donated to the Tayside Health Fund for PRI.

Anyone who would like to purchase a copy of the commemorative book, which costs £5, can do so by contacting Jennifer Welch on jwelch@nhs.net or 01738 473207.

The County and City of Perth Royal Infirmary was opened by King George V and Queen Mary on 10 July, 1914. During the visit, the king was invited to plant a copper beech tree, which still stands at the Taymount Terrace entrance of the hospital.

A plaque was sited at the tree to mark the opening which read ‘This tree was planted by His Majesty King George V on the occasion of his visit to Perth to open the new infirmary on Friday 10 July 1914.

The original plaque was restored last July to mark the 100-year anniversary and it was re-laid and unveiled in front of invited guests.

During the centenary year, a number of events have taken place, including an exhibition of photographs and historical medical equipment was also on display to mark the centenary.

Other celebrations included historical programming on Hospital Radio Perth, a centenary menu for patients and a commemorative gift for patients of babies born at PRI on the anniversary. A civic reception was also held at Perth Museum & Art Gallery in recognition of the last 100 years at PRI.

Prior to the new infirmary being built on its present site, it was located in York Place, in what is now the A K Bell Library. During the First World War, the old infirmary became a Voluntary Aid Detachment Hospital for the duration of the war.

Over the years, there have been many changes to the original hospital building on Taymount Terrace. A maternity block was added in 1975 and a care of the elderly unit in 1981.

A new ward block was opened in 1993 by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal which now houses wards and departments including medicine, surgery, orthopaedics, radiology, nuclear medicine, endoscopy and physiotherapy.

The hospital, which currently has 201 acute and 54 non-acute beds, also has an A&E and an Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU).

Contact:

Debbie Huband

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740134