Friends Of Stracathro

It is 14 years since those who were campaigning to retain Stracathro Hospital, won that very bloody battle. The population of Angus and the Mearns united to fight to prove that this hospital was a vital arm of the NHS service provision in Tayside. It took us three years of research, dogged determination and even presenting our argument to the new Scottsih government to be taken seriously. Eventually we gained a very powerful supporter in Gerry Marr the new Chief Executive of Tayside Health Board, who immediately grasped the importance of having a flourishing hospital and set about endorsing all our arguments. The public were delighted that Stracathro was saved, however, their trust had been severely tested and they remained sceptical. Not only the main in the street but also some of the staff at the hospital felt vulnerable and we were approached by many concerned people as to how we could ensure that the hospital did have a secure future. It didn't take long to come up with the idea of forming a 'Friends of Stracathro' and for all that the couple of us who set up the charity felt like poachers turned gamekeepers, we saw the wisdom in setting the course of action. We could see benefits for all concerned if we worked with NHS Tayside to enhance what was developing quickly into a first class hospital.
Over the years we have invested a great deal of money, donated by the public of Angus and the Mearns, in buying equipment which the NHS could not provide for the hospital. Stracathro Hospital now has state of the art equipment, which is not available in any other hospital, it means that Stracathro Hospital was not only saved, but is seen as a vital cog in the Health Service of Tayside and the hospital is often described as 'The Jewel in the Crown' of such hospitals in Scotland.

It is 14 years since those who were campaigning to retain Stracathro Hospital, won that very bloody battle. The population of Angus and the Mearns united to fight to prove that this hospital was a vital arm of the NHS service provision in Tayside. It took us three years of research, dogged determination and even presenting our argument to the new Scottsih government to be taken seriously. Eventually we gained a very powerful supporter in Gerry Marr the new Chief Executive of Tayside Health Board, who immediately grasped the importance of having a flourishing hospital and set about endorsing all our arguments. The public were delighted that Stracathro was saved, however, their trust had been severely tested and they remained sceptical. Not only the main in the street but also some of the staff at the hospital felt vulnerable and we were approached by many concerned people as to how we could ensure that the hospital did have a secure future. It didn't take long to come up with the idea of forming a 'Friends of Stracathro' and for all that the couple of us who set up the charity felt like poachers turned gamekeepers, we saw the wisdom in setting the course of action. We could see benefits for all concerned if we worked with NHS Tayside to enhance what was developing quickly into a first class hospital.
Over the years we have invested a great deal of money, donated by the public of Angus and the Mearns, in buying equipment which the NHS could not provide for the hospital. Stracathro Hospital now has state of the art equipment, which is not available in any other hospital, it means that Stracathro Hospital was not only saved, but is seen as a vital cog in the Health Service of Tayside and the hospital is often described as 'The Jewel in the Crown' of such hospitals in Scotland.