Hospitals and Medical Personnel

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Past and Present Chap XXII

(Herbert Haddrell remembers)

1866: Dr Kirk of Bathgate was appointed Medical Officer for Armadale.

1882: Dr John Anderson moved to Armadale to be its first resident doctor.  He died in 1912.

1883: Town Medical Officer: Dr Longmuir of Bathgate was replaced by Dr Stevenson.

1912: Dr William Anderson was appointed as the town's Medical Officer.  During WW1 he became a Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps. After the war, 'Doctor Willie' continued to serve the people of Armadale.  He was also a cine camera enthusiast and gave many talks about his travels with the aid of the films he had taken.  Other lectures given by him covered his other passion, pigeons.

Dr. Anderson by Mrs Murgatroyd of Unity Terrace, Armadale.

Hats off to Doctor Anderson
Known far and wide.
There are few beds in Armadale
He has not stood beside.

The young and old respect him.
He is a man of high degree.
In the 1914-18 war
He received the O.B.E.

We seem to pin our faith on him
And banish any fears.
He has been our faithful Doctor
For forty-two long years.

When ill don't get down hearted;
There is brightness round the bend.
May God bless and keep our Doctor -
Who has proved a faithful friend.

1903: Goth fundraising secured a resident nurse for the town.

1917: A nurse was appointed for Armadale and its district.

1919: After interviewing 4 candidates, the panel appointed Sister Stevenson as Armadale's first Lady Health Visitor at a cost of £120 pa.  She began a weekly child welfare service in 1920.

Tippethill Fever Hospital Armadale

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Colquhoun Postcard

In 1899, the total cost of building the hospital was nearly £7,000, Armadale's share being nearly £800.  The land for the hospital, on high ground half way between Armadale and Whitburn, was bought from the Trustees of the late Sir William Baillie of Polkemmet.  From its opening in 1901, it was administered by a Joint Hospital Board representing Armadale, Bathgate and Whitburn.

In 1902, a smallpox pavilion was added to the original building, but, once the need declined, it was used as a sanatorium for consumptive patients in the early stages of the illness.

Past Tippethill Staff and Conditions of Work:

Matron: Miss Johnston

Doctors Willox, Ruxton, Anderson

Caretaker / odd job / man mortuary attendant: Andrew Blake

At 17, applicants could apply interview by the matron, Miss Johnston and by Dr Anderson, the Medical Officer.  If accepted, they would work a  48 - 50 hour week, for a year, earning  £1 18s a week.  Out of that, parents would give them 2/6 as pocket money.
During their second year, they would have a 2/6 rise, and they learned their skills from nursing sisters.  They experienced labour- intensive, heavy work, and everything was controlled by a strict discipline. Since it was an isolation hospital,  they learn the skills of barrier nursing.

By the 1960s, most people needing medical care were taken to Bangour, Edinburgh or Glasgow as Tippethill was so small.

Gradually it was realised that the hospital in its current form was no longer needed.  Instead, on 28 March 2001, a new hospital was opened by Susan Deacon, the Scottish Health Minister.  The new name, Tippethill House, reflected its changed role.  At the opening of the £2.3m community hospital, Susan Deacon commented:

'The new Tippethill hospital will offer continuing care for 60 older people in the West Lothian area. It will provide a modern and comfortable environment which will give older people high quality care.........   Frail older people have many sensitive and complex needs. I am pleased that in designing this facility great care has been taken to ensuring that those needs are met, including advice and assistance from Stirling University's Dementia Unit.'

Here's another postcard, which features Tippethill Hospital

We think the addressee is Esther Gathercole, bc1881, who was living with her father, Joseph, a farmer, at Church Farm, Holm Hale, Thetford, in 1901

We wonder why this particular postcard was sent with greetings from Camberwell in August, 1908. 

Does anyone know?