Annual Reports and Pamphlets Relating to the Origins of the Hospital, 1792 - 1947
Scope and Contents
The hospital’s earlier annual reports are bound up with pamphlets relating to the setting up of the hospital. This section therefore contains a considerable amount of material concerning the background to the hospital as well as its annual reports.
The earliest annual reports are very brief: they gradually expand during the 1820s and 1830s to include patient statistics, annual accounts and lists of office bearers. From the appointment of William Mackinnon as the first Physician Superintendent in 1840, the reports also contain very full patient statistics, showing forms of disease, causes of disease, occupations of patients etc. From 1873 the reports include statistical tables recommended by the Medico-Psychological Association. Statements of work done by the patients are included from 1846 to 1910. From 1876 the annual reports on the asylum by the Commissioners in Lunacy are given in full. Names of nurses at the hospital who passed the examination for the nursing certificate granted by the Royal Medico-Psychological Association are included from 1894 and from 1933 names of nurses who passed the General Nursing Council’s examinations are also included.
Dates
- Creation: 1792 - 1947
Conditions Governing Access
Public access to these records is governed by UK data protection legislation, the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, and the latest version of the Scottish Government Records Management: Health and Social Care Code of Practice (Scotland). Whilst some records may be accessed freely by researchers, the aforementioned legislation and guidelines mean that records conveying sensitive information on named individuals may be closed to the public for a set time.
Where health records relate to named deceased adults, they will be open 75 years after the latest date referenced, on the next 1 January. Case records of individuals below 18 years of age or adults not proven to be deceased will be open 100 years after the latest date recorded, on the next 1 January. Further information on legislation and guidelines covering medical records can be found here: https://bit.ly/2CXB4V8.
LHSA encourages the use of these records for legitimate clinical, historical and genealogical research purposes, and records that are designated as closed can be consulted by legitimate researchers if certain conditions are met. Please contact the LHSA Archivist for more details regarding procedures on how you can apply for permission to view closed records. Telephone us on: 0131 650 3392 or email us at lhsa@ed.ac.uk.
Extent
22 Volumes
47 booklets
Repository Details
Part of the Lothian Health Services Archive Repository
Centre for Research Collections
Edinburgh University Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44 (0)131 650 3392
lhsa@ed.ac.uk