Dundee Royal Infirmary

Dundee Royal Infirmary, often shortened to DRI, was a major teaching hospital in Dundee, Scotland. Until the opening of Ninewells Hospital in 1974, Dundee Royal Infirmary was Dundee’s main hospital. It was closed in 1998, after 200 years of operation. HistoryDundee Royal Infirmary's origins lay in a voluntary dispensary founded in Dundee by Dr Robert Stewart and the local minister Robert Small in 1782, building on a similar venture started in 1735. This venture was seen to be beneficial to the community and, in 1793, it was proposed that an infirmary for indoor patients should be founded. This proposal was realised when the Dundee Infirmary was opened in King Street on 11 March 1798, just under four years after its foundation stone had been laid. At first, this building housed 56 beds, but it was expanded by the addition of wings between 1825 and 1827. The infirmary was granted a Royal Charter by George III in 1819, after which it became known as the "Dundee Royal Infirmary and Asylum". In 1820, the asylum was formally established as a separate entity in its own premises in Albert Street, and the hospital gained its official title of "Dundee Royal Infirmary", although locals would often simply refer to it as "the DRI". When opened in 1798 the infirmary had two physicians, Sir Alexander Douglas and Dr John Willison and seven surgeons. The surgical department included Mr John Crichton who remained associated with the hospital until 1860. The first nurse at the hospital was Mrs Farquharson. The first matron was Mrs Jane Sandeman appointed in 1837 (prior to that the matron's duties had been filled by the housekeeper-matron). Another founding member of staff was Thomas Nicoll, who had been appointed apothecary in 1796.

Dundee Royal Infirmary, often shortened to DRI, was a major teaching hospital in Dundee, Scotland. Until the opening of Ninewells Hospital in 1974, Dundee Royal Infirmary was Dundee’s main hospital. It was closed in 1998, after 200 years of operation. HistoryDundee Royal Infirmary's origins lay in a voluntary dispensary founded in Dundee by Dr Robert Stewart and the local minister Robert Small in 1782, building on a similar venture started in 1735. This venture was seen to be beneficial to the community and, in 1793, it was proposed that an infirmary for indoor patients should be founded. This proposal was realised when the Dundee Infirmary was opened in King Street on 11 March 1798, just under four years after its foundation stone had been laid. At first, this building housed 56 beds, but it was expanded by the addition of wings between 1825 and 1827. The infirmary was granted a Royal Charter by George III in 1819, after which it became known as the "Dundee Royal Infirmary and Asylum". In 1820, the asylum was formally established as a separate entity in its own premises in Albert Street, and the hospital gained its official title of "Dundee Royal Infirmary", although locals would often simply refer to it as "the DRI". When opened in 1798 the infirmary had two physicians, Sir Alexander Douglas and Dr John Willison and seven surgeons. The surgical department included Mr John Crichton who remained associated with the hospital until 1860. The first nurse at the hospital was Mrs Farquharson. The first matron was Mrs Jane Sandeman appointed in 1837 (prior to that the matron's duties had been filled by the housekeeper-matron). Another founding member of staff was Thomas Nicoll, who had been appointed apothecary in 1796.