30/05/2016
Plans are underway to mark the 150th Anniversary of the opening of Stratheden Hospital near Cupar.
The hospital first opened in 1866 and became known as Stratheden Hospital with the birth of the National Health Service in 1948.
At the time of its opening, the facility was considered to be at the forefront of mental health care and treatment and this is an ethos which continues to be embraced to the present day, with the new state-of-the-art Intensive Psychiatric Care Unit newly opened to patients in mid-May.
A key part of the efforts to mark the anniversary of the hospital will see NHS Fife hold a public exhibition of archive materials illustrating the full 150 year history of the hospital in July. NHS Fife are asking the local population to play a part in helping to develop this exhibition and are asking if anyone with photographs or memories of Stratheden would we willing to share them.
NHS Fife Development Lead for Mental Health Quality Improvement, and curator of the exhibition, Mike Kelly said:
“Stratheden Hospital has a rich and diverse history and we are keen to take this unique opportunity to delve into the history of the site.
“The work to gather the materials has been ongoing for some time and we have been very fortunate that the Cupar Heritage Society have provided some fascinating materials which will form the basis of the exhibition.
“We are very keen to hear from anyone else who has any interesting artefacts from the hospital that they would be willing to share to help us tell the story of the hospital over the last century and a half.”
Those who wish to contribute materials to the exhibition can contact Mike Kelly by email: fife-uhb.MHQI@nhs.net