| Administrative History | Bignold Cottage Hospital, Wick, Caithness, was opened in 1903 and was the first significant hospital to be founded in the town. The hospital was based in a house opposite the corner of George Street and Hill Street which had been given for the purpose by Arthur Bignold, MP for the Northern Burghs. It was enlarged in 1928 at a cost of £6000 after which it had 34 beds, an operating theatre and x-ray equipment. In 1931 the Bignold Hospital Aid Committee raised funds for further improvements. The hospital suffered bomb damage in 1940 and patients were removed to Lybster, the building was taken over by the RAF. It resumed its function as a hospital in 1947. In 1953 the hospital had 20 beds but with increasing numbers of cases being sent to Inverness it was more often used for accidents, observation and appendicitis operations. In 1966 a consultant physician was appointed and more major surgical and medical work began to be done locally. The hospital continued in use until it was closed in 1986, a wing was incorporated into Caithness General Hospital called Bignold to commemorate the hospital. |