Glasgows oldest hospital is the Royal Infirmary on medieval High Street. it was opened in 1794 with a capacity of 136 beds which later increased to 208 beds in 1815. At around 1828 a fever house opened, with 220 beds. later a surgical block was added in 1861. In 1904 there was a reconstruction of parts of the building.



The Western Infirmary on Dumbarton Road was opened in 1874 with 150 beds. Its capacity was incresed to 350 in 1881 and 630 in 1906-1911. In the 1950's the maintance couldn't be sustained so a rebuilding programme was devised, which was to be carried out in two phases. The first phase was completed in 1964-1965 which added another 256 beds.

The second phase was to be completed in 1974 but was indefinitely postponed in 1975. The second phase was not bulit until the early 1990's.





Glasgow also had a lunitic asylum which was constructed in 1810-1814. It was moved to a new site at Gartnavel in 1843. The patients were segretgated by gender and social class. Extensions were added in 1877,1937 and 1959. The Royal charter was obtained in 1824. In 1931 it was renamed as Glasgow Mental Hospital and again in 1963 to the currant name of Glasgow Gartnavel Royal Hospital. A psychogeriatric unit was established in 1972. From 1948-68 it had its own board of management. In 1968 a new board managemnent was established with the Western and Gartnavel hospitals.