Medical advances, NHS reorganisation and social change make the scenes in these old black and white photos almost unrecognisable to those used to the hospitals of the 2020s.
Yet the doctors, nurses and other staff all these decades ago had the same purpose as their counterparts today - to deliver the best possible care and treatment for their patients.
This selection of pictures from the Evening News archives capture the health service in the Capital 60 or 70 years ago.
When some of these pictures were taken the National Health Service was less than 10 or 20 years old. Have a look through this picture gallery and get a feel for the atmosphere of the time.
9. Operation at Leith Hospital
Leith Hospital operating room, Edinburgh: operation surgeons and nurses in April 1953 | TSPL Photo: TSPL
10. Andrew Duncan clinic
Inside one of the wards at the Andrew Duncan clinic in the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Morningside, October 1965. | TSPL Photo: Hamish Campbell
11. X-ray machine
Demonstration of the new method of x-raying patients whilst in cubicles, at the East medical lecture theatre, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, July 1964. | TSPL Photo: Stan Warburton
12. Princess Alexandra at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
Princess Alexandra on a visit to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary | TSPL Photo: Jack Crombie