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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
World
Iona Young

Incredible images show Edinburgh hospital's 'utopian' neurological theatre being built

Incredible images have resurfaced that show an Edinburgh hospital's 'utopian' neurological theatre being built way back in 1959.

The photographs taken at the Western General show state-of-the-art equipment that looks like the inside of a UFO from outer space.

As part of the construction of the neurological department at the city hospital, a large theatre was installed with domed roofs and dozens of shadowless lamps.

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At the time the equipment was brand new and was designed by Professor Norman Dott who used the surgical theatre and specialised in neurology.

The department was much later moved to the Royal Infirmary in around 2010 and have been mostly disused ever since while waiting to be demolished.

There were talks of moving the unique theatres to the Surgeon's Hall Museum but there has not been any confirmation of this.

A caption from the Lothian Health Services Archive read: "These photographs show the Department of Surgical #Neurology at the Western General Hospital in #Edinburgh in the process of 2construction, c. 1959.

"The theatres, which were described as ‘Utopian’, had domed roofs which featured shadowless lamps."

Dozens of locals including many that worked a the Western General reminisced of the new technology being constructed.

Elizabeth Preston said: "It would be a tragedy if the DCN theatre was lost as it was one of a kind & innovative ….. I remember being absolutely enthralled. Nothing seemed to make its way to RIE including all those photographs .. such a shame."

Harry Day said: "I spent nine days there after having been kicked in my head by a back-legging horse kick.

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"The surgeon and staff did a great job operating on my cracked skull, 17 stitches and a nine-day stay. The surgeon told me very few people survive receiving a kick from a horse never mind a double back kick.

"Thanks to them I have now reached the age of 95 years old and have a great memory of my past years. God Bless the NHS .and all their staff."

Annie Mo said: "I worked as an OT for a short time in DCN & loved it. I was lucky enough to watch brain surgery happen in one of these theatres."

While Anne Forster said: "Looks like a tardis."

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