An appeal has gone out from the Edinburgh International Book Festival for people to contribute memories of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and its old home at Lauriston Place. They are planning a writing project, Words from the Wards, at this summer’s Book Festival because it is going to be based for the first time at the Royal Infirmary’s old site, which is now home to Edinburgh University’s Edinburgh Futures Institute.
Here are 29 fascinating photographs selected from the Evening News archives which may jog some memories of the hospital over the years, before it moved to its current site at Little France in 2003.
17. Suspension therapy
A patient receives suspension therapy at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, February 12 1970. | TSPL Photo: Hamish Campbell
18. Busy night at A&E
Another busy night at Edinburgh Royal Infrimary's Accident & Emergency department, January 1992. | TSPL Photo: Alan Ledgerwood
19. X-ray viewing room
A doctor and nurses examine a patient's X-rays in the viewing room for X-ray film at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, February 1970. | TSPL Photo: Hamish Campbell
20. Hospital buildings
Some of the hospital buildings at the Royal Infirmary in Lauriston Place, January 1989. | TSPL Photo: Albert Jordan