Children`s Wing. Photo; Courtesy of Scotsman Publications
Entrance as we knew it in Mill Lane
Leith Hospital
Following the awards of the Pillars of Leith I would like to continue in this vein
by Oldleithers` acknowledgement of what our local hospital meant to us.
The hospital is now no longer the institution as we knew it. It is now converted into flats
No longer can we just run up to the Outpatient Department (No ER or A&E when we used it) for a cut finger or twisted ankle.
It was always there for us.
Replacement
(Leith Community Treatment Centre (CTC) is the first service of its kind in Scotland, providing a wide range of outpatient and day services for adults and children living in Leith and north-east Edinburgh
The £8.5 million CTC opened in June 2004 and patients are referred there for treatment by their GP or hospital consultant. The centre brings together services that were previously scattered provided between sites including the Eastern General and Mill Lane Medical Centre.
(Leith CTC is regularly attended by consultants from the Royal Infirmary, Western General and Royal Hospital for Sick Children, bringing services closer to where patients live.
(It also provides a base for a number of community healthcare teams, including psychiatric nurses, paediatric speech and language therapists, school nurses and social workers.)
It is accessed from Junction Place
What are your memories of the Mill Lane establishment?
My own are various: tonsils out during the War, 1950 operation on my neck glands and various other cuts and bruises as a boy.
My wife and daughters were also treated there for various afflictions.
Lets use this page as a tribute to the Doctors, Matron, Sisters and Nurses, aye even the Porters and Cleaners
_________________
My memories of the old Leith Hospital are nothing but good ones. I was fortunate enough to only need to go there once on an Emergency basis but saw the Dr. on call who gave me the proper treatment and sent me on my way. Of course I was in uniform so maybe he was scared he'd make a mistake and I'd come down on him like a ton of bricks.
My other memories were due to my job. If I had to get further particulars of some 'incident' I was always dealt with in a professional way and given the required facts that we needed. After all the years in Leith I never heard a bad word said about Leith Hospital - the Leith folk were all very proud of such a fine hospital. . Jess Newlands B.C. Canada. 24-01-09
In June 1950 at the age of 15 I was admitted to Ward 4 to have a tubercular gland taken out. I had a swelling on my neck the size of my fist. Three days later I was operated on. Two days later I was up and about. The surgeons were Mr Mitchell and Mr Barron. Sister Mortimer was in charge of the ward.
I remained in hospital for three weeks during which time I became part and parcel of ward duties. I collected swabs folded by patients and I had to deliver them to the operating theatre each day. Bed pans distribution and collection were also done by me. I was the general gofor for bedridden patients.
All the while, I was in my dressing gown. Favourite nurse was staff nurse Frizell, an Indian.. She got to know my parents quite well and she would visit us regularly at our house in Cables Wynd.
With the nurses`s home overlooking the Corporation Buildings, she would often call out to me when I was standing around with my mates. I used to get a bit embarassed over this and I would pretend I didn`t hear her. My mates would then tease me saying my girl friend was calling.
I always remember the Matron`s rounds accompanied by the ward sister and the doctors staying in her shadow. She was the matriarch. Visiting was only allowed three times a week and this was by admission card. By the time I was discharged, I was becoming so used to it with all the company that I became homesick for it when I returned home. It was truly a community hospital. So personal to me.
John Stewart, Livingston 24-01-09
I was 4 years old at the time. We had no bathroom in our Buchanan Street house and bathed in the living room in the old aluminium bath. One bathtime, my mum discovered she had not brought the towel through and told me to stay in the bath while she went to get one. I then climbed out the bath, slipped on the linoleum and banged my chin against the wooden sideboard.
It split open and I was then taken down to Leith Hospital screaming. I can still remember the fear and the smell of the whole place. I can recall being held down by what seemed like loads of staff and everytime the doctor came towards me with the needle and thread I tried to kick him away. This is the only memory I have at that early age and that put me off hospitals for a long time after. I am John`s daughter and he may remember other bits of this story - so feel free to add anything in dad!
Karen Stewart, East Calder 24.01.09
I was four years old, lived in Restarig Road and round the corner in Blackie Road we made a see-saw with a pile of bricks and a plank (the houses in Summerfield Gardens were being built at the time). My brother, Eric, stepped off the plank when I was up in the air and I came down with a wallop - and a hernia.
I can still smell the hospital smell but I was soon home and found a wee red 12" square wind-up gramophone waiting for me and a record of "The Laughing Policeman". The next time was when Eric tore his knee cartilage playing cricket for Leith Franklin and we got two visiting tickets and had to take turns to see him!
Jean (Durie) McFarlane, Paisley 24-01-09
Football related injuries, 3 times breaking my collar bones, and being strapped-up in a figure of eight, the other one was for nikkin' yaps... TRUE!! 2 of us went to Keddie Gardens, looked over the wall on Ferry Rd side, climbed over, filled our jumpers, nearly got caught, ran off, over the building roofs. My mate was in front of me, his foot went through the corrugated sheeting, he got it out and turned round to tell me. TOO LATE.. Went through.
Landed on some sheet metal, must have been knocked out. when I came round I managed to get to the door open it, and get out. Later that night I tried to get my shirt off and was unable to, reason being, I had cut my back quite badly the blood had gone hard and then my mum took me to hospital. It took what seemed ages and a lot of soaking to get it off. The bright side of all this I managed to knick a nut and bolt for the guider we were building. Happy days...
Graham Whyte, Harrogate 25-01-09
My nursing profession started at Leith Hospital. I have so many wonderful memories as a student nurse and then as a staff nurse at Leith Hospital. I was a staff nurse in the children's ward before emigrating to the USA. 1963 through 1966. Would love to connect with old friends. Margaret Smithformally Madeira St. LeithSchool....Holy Cross Academy.
Margaret Smith, San Diego smidgiemms@yahoo.com. 25-01-09
Having my tonsils out, waking up the next day and getting jelly and ice cream. I also fractured my skull, and various other injuries. My auntie used to hear the ambulance bells going by the top of Balfour St and think is that Rab again!!!
Rab Paton, Surrey 27-01-09
My mother taking me for a walk to the store as I thought for a pair of school trousers and getting whisked into the hospital to get my tonsils out and waking up on a trolley head to tail with another boy and a stainless steel spitoon between us full of a pink disinfectant?? This was in 1948.
Bill Elliot, Auld Reekie. 27-01-09
I had many fond memories of my visits to Leith Hospital. 6 weeks in 1950 and another 6 in 1952 for removal of knee cartileges, each with 3 weeks lying in bed, under the watchful eye of Sister Agnew, (only two at a bed at a time and no sitting on the bed). Boy she was a hard case. Tuesday was the day when Sister Agnew had a day off. What a differenc in the ward, the nurses dancing up and down the singing away while doing there duties.
The weekend the young girls who were training were brought in, and their first jobs were to pull out the beds and wash down behind them, and all looking forward to doing some nursing after studying all week.
I had another week in there but this time it was under Sister Mortimer, not quite as strict as Agnew, (but boy could we do with them now). I became very friendly with one of the staff nurses that time and when I used to see her at the Eldo on a Saturday night we had a standing order to give some times a half dozen young nurses a lift over the fence in Mill Lane about 12-oclock as they were supposed to be in the home by 11pm or they were reported to the matron.
By the way the nurses used to get into the Eldo for free after their shift was finished. Supposed to be at 9pm but generally much later. Very sorry to hear of the closure of this great place.
Jim Laidlaw, Auckland, New Zealand 30-01-09
Around five years old... I found a ring made from tin in the street and put it on my finger. Couldn't get it off of course - panic - tears. Someone said "You'll need to get your finger cut off" - clever thing to say to a bairn..! The Doctor at the hospital got a little saw and proceeded to saw through the ring - after chasing me round the table a few times and listening to me screaming "I don''t want you to cut my finger off...."!!! All turned out well but I'll bet I made his day.
Carol Ford, Carnoustie. 02-02-09
Two visits that I remember. Age 7 (East Crowmwell St.) going down the stair bannister backwards, fell, cracked ma heid, was walking out the stair and a neighbour said, what happened son yer heid's bleedin at the back. I started howling, my Maw took me to Leith Hospital where they had to sit on me, tae haud me doon, to put the stitches in, so I was told.
Then at age 18 (1952 lived in Bingham then)was due to go into the RAF the next week.... appendicitis almost perforated, was taken in the ambulance to Leith H., where they operated successfully (ha ha)...in these days you were kept in for a week,and it was a big ward with all sorts of surgical cases etc...the old man in the bed next to me was a real wisecracker,kept everybody laughing, which was difficult for me, being stitched up and told not to laugh or cough....one morning he was not to be seen...he had passed away during the night.
The nurses were grrrreat and I remember takin a shine to one or a few of them....Happy memories!
Alex Sandie: San Diego, California, 03-02-09
At about age 6 my dad took me to consulting rooms at Leith Links. A few weeks later I found myself in Leith Hospital having my tonsils out. Children weren't allowed visitors in those days, but I remember my dad waving to me from Taylor Gardens. I think it was probably harder for the parents than it was for the children. I don't remember the nurse's names but they were lovely and looked after us so well. Other memories are of visiting my grandparents, my dad who had a burst duodenal ulcer and then painful kidney stones and my mum after she had a stroke. Every time the treatment was second to none. It was such a sad loss and really should never have happened. The Hospital was built by subscription and most of the beds had plaques above them saying who had endowed (paid for them). I remember one had Salvesen above it (from my granny's time there).
Linda Malcolm: Livingston, 04-02-09
I remember I was about 12 and fell running for a bus. I went home to my grannies in the coppy crying my eyes out. My grandad said it was only a sprained wrist. 3 hours and many tears later my gran took me over to Leith Hospital where it turned out I had a badly fractured wrist and had to have an operation. I then spent 2 wonderful days in the children`s ward and didn`t want to go home.
PS, my grandad who swore it was only a sprain was the first aid man in Fisons where he worked
Jackie Adams: North Junction Street, 02-04-09
When I was ten I was bowled by a tramcar and finished up in Leith Hospital with a nose like a butcher's shop. My one abiding memory of my short stay there was of the girl in the next bed with a broken leg. Every time a nurse came near her with a needle she would scream blue murder. I have to admit that after a few daily jabs with the needle my arms did begin to ache, so much so that I offered up my posterior as an alternative target. Ouch!!
Jack Mackenzie, New Zealand, 19-02-10
I remember a hospital porter coming to our house in Tennant Street to take me to Leith Hospital for removal of my tonsils. Plenty of ice cream and jelly the date 1929. .
Murdo Stewart, 28-02-10, Longniddry
Decontamination
A further tribute to the Hospital. This time as part of its war effort, the boys in the Corporation Buildings were proud to assist.
A child`s contribution to fighting the War on the home front was limited, but we in the `Coppy` had a unique input.
The boys volunteered themselves as guinea pigs to take part in the weekly Thursday evening de-contamination exercise in Leith Hospital It must have been around 1941 when these began. Two porters in the hospital, the brothers Mick and Johnny Malone who lived in the `Coppy` recruited ten of us for this. We reported to the office in the main hall on the first night and were then given our instructions.
Among those who volunteered on this night were, Johnny Letford, Peter Meaney, Peter Lynch, James Braidwood, James Minto, David Lothian, Billy King, George Sheriff, Johnny Livingston and myself.
Each of us were allocated a rigid steel mesh stretcher that we laid out in rows on the hall`s floorway. Ushered into a side room, each of us donned a pair of swimming trunks beneath our short trousers before lying down on the stretchers with a blanket over us. In turn we were borne out of the hospital by two orderlies dressed over all in gas protective gear. The reaction of some of the girls outside who witnessed this had to be seen. Some were in tears obviously unaware that it was only an exercise.
We were then carried back into the hospital through a side door and deposited onto a trolley and left in charge of a nurse. She immediately began stripping off our clothes until we were left in our swimming gear. I can still feel the chill of the cold steel mesh of the stretcher as I lay back on it.
After being covered again by the blanket, we were wheeled one at a time into a small narrow corridor barely long enough to accommodate the trolley. She left closing the door behind her. A bell rang then the door at the other end opened and a nurse drew the trolley out into a large room that contained numerous pipes, valves and hoses with water swirling about the feet of all who were in attendance.
Doctors, nurses and other attendants, all enveloped in waterproof apparell including rubber boots, swarmed around us as we were manoeuvered into position for the cleansing.
There were two stations operating at the one time so it was a welcome sight to see one or another of your friends having the same treatment. I must admit that on my first experience of the de-contamination I was somewhat full of trepidation. Although my older comrades had assured me that there was `nowt to be scared o``. I was still nervous.
The blanket was stripped off me leaving me staring up into the faces of the numerous cleansers. Hoses and syringes squirting water were inserted into my ears and nose, and particular attention was paid to my armpits and behind my knees. Hair was also thoroughly cleansed.
Obviously in a real-life situation a complete body wash would have taken place to ensure that no pockets of gas lurked in any private parts of the body. Hence the wearing of trunks in this simulated exercise.
This part completed, I was then dried and swaddled and placed upon another trolley with hot-water bottles all around me. I was then wheeled into the original room where my clothes had been returned. One by one we were re-united and all got dressed as the doctors and others joined us.
These adults then drew cash from their pockets and distributed it among us. A complete wash and being paid for it. Bearing in mind we came from homes that were devoid of running hot water, let alone baths, this was just great.
With this money in our pockets, we repaired to the `chippy`, Pacitto`s, at the top of Bangor Road for peas and vinegar. We were to repeat this exercise every Thursday evening for a year until the need for it was no longer felt.
John Stewart, 11-03-10
Livingston, West Lothian
Thank you Shocker for that piece of information....I have just read it online, very interesting article. I had my tonsils and adenoids out there when I was wee, also my appendix. Thank you once more, I would not have known about it if you hadn't said. Margaret
Margaret Cooper nee Gaughan, 11/15/11,
Shropshire via Graham St.
Tom McLuskey Tuesday, 11/15/11, 3:31 PM
Leith Hospital spent a lot of time there,some good memories and some not so good memories but Leith Hospital is a very important part of the Leith tradition and Heritage and lets keep that alive Tom
Tom McLuskey , 11/15/11,
BC.Canada
Great idea. Ah wiz a nurse their in the 70's. we could write in the reason we wur in their an whoat wiz wrong wi us. ye might huv been ma patiebt
Florence Merton Tuesday, 11/15/11,
Shropshire
Remember Leith hospital on many levels. I had my tonsils out there when I was about 11/12 years old They kept you in in those days & you couldn't eat a lot while it was still sore. So my Dad sent loads of our ice-cream in every day - eagerly awaited by the other 'tonsil'patients & staff alike! I swear they kept me in longer than usual just for the ice-cream!! My mother was in there for 6 weeks having fractured her leg badly when she fell coming out of the old wash hoose with a loaded basket. She must have been missed as I was born less that a year later - nearly ten years after my sister! Lastly - I went to a few great parties there with a medical student boy-friend. Someone brought the gin & one of the student nurses would raid the cupboard in the children's ward for bottles of that awful syrupy orange that children got in those days. Diluted with gin - it was no bad! A great hospital that!
Connie Newman Wednesday, 11/16/11
Tonbridge Kent
I was never a patient there (lucky me) but my wee brother was in there for months I think about 6 , he got a terrible burn , and the hospital was experimenting on him, me and my mum where up there every day, and my dad at night visiting, I will never forget the smell of cholorform, (not sure if thats what it was) the minute you walked in there it was a strong smell, my brother was in the childrens ward , he was in a crib.....I was little at the time,(about 4) but got to know the hospital, and nurses after months of visiting there.......of course I was always telt "now Ruthie be quiet when you go in the hospital" .
Ruth McClounnan Wednesday, 11/16/11,
Leith/Los Angeles
Experiences of Leith Hospital¿ Early 40s got my inoculation ¿.Ward 7 Rheumatics ¿. Concussion after getting run over by a bike. Late 40s an op to have thumb nail removed after splitting it with an axe. 1980s groin hernia and suspected heart attack that turned out to be panic attacks. Multiple visits in the early hours for toothache, I hated the dentist. Fond memories of this sorely missed institution and a time where the feared ward sister and who matron were Gods. though shalt obey
Frank Ferri Wednesday, 11/16/11,
Newhave, Edinburgh
Been in a few times myself, you were really well looked after. a sad day when it closed.
Bob Moffat Wednesday, 11/16/11,
Bonnyrigg
Florence, I wonder if you remember Dr.Gollick, he was on duty when I was taken in emergency early 70s, he saved my arm, 180 stitches. I will never forget his kindness. Another Op. was Mr McPherson I was in Ward 2 I think, 28stitches!!!
I was an experitmental morning waitress late60s early 70s, do you remember Sister Glendinning up ladies medical she was verty strict but she was good to me. We should have a count on how many stitches we have had over the years I bet it woul come to a few thousand.
Moira Boyd (Reid) 11/17/11
Restalrig
The first thing I think of Leith Hospital is the strong smell of antiseptic! dettol maybe? My mother was a night cleaner there and had many stories of the carry on with the young nurses; when Matron was around it was a very different story!!Matron was the law; even the Doctors trembled in their boots lol.
Had my tonsils out there and spent lots of time there as a patient suffering from Asthma. Dad would give me a colly buckie up there from Sandport Street in the wee hours of the morning and it was usually all locked up..After my hospital stay I would be sent to a convalescent home to recupe. Not sure where, it was a couple hours bus ride and only allowed one visitor once a week for one hour.. I hated it!!Mum finally took me out of there much to the displeasure of the Matron......
Only have good memories of the kind nurses at LH. Do the hospitals still have Matrons and do they still wear those starched uniforms? When Mum was breast feeding they often sent for her to provide milk for some wee new born, having no phone they would send someone from the hospital and she would run up there.Cousin had to go there from the State pictures when one Saturday she stuck a peanut up her nose!!! I returned to Leith when I was 18 and worked at JG Thompsons in the wine cellar on the corking machine BUT THAT WAS SHORT LIVED as I spent a lot of time at LH GETTING STITCHES from exploding bottles..must say later on it was more enjoyable taking the content oot of the bottle than putting it in.....
Cathy Welch, 11/18/11
Leith/Canada
Flo,when I talk about good and bad experiences at Leith Hospital I do not mean the treatment that I received at Leith Hospital, I am referring to the reason that I was in the hospital in the first place.
I was always treated with kindness and good care even though sometimes through the boxing I was in pretty bad shape but why do you not answer to Moira who has asked you a couple of questions that possibly you were present at a particular time,when she was present at Leith Hospital around the time that you claim you were a nurse there
Tam McLuskey, 26-12-11
Shannon Lake BC.Canada
