Liberton Hospital

Liberton Hospital
NHS Lothian
Liberton Hospital
Shown in Edinburgh
Geography
Location	Edinburgh, Scotland
Coordinates	55°54′31″N3°09′15″W / 55.9087°N 3.1542°W / 55.9087; -3.1542
Organisation
Type	Geriatric medicine
History
Opened	1906
Links
Website	www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/GoingToHospital/Locations/Pages/LibertonHospital.aspx
Lists	Hospitals in Scotland
Other links	List of hospitals in Scotland

Main hospital building constructed for the Royal Edinburgh Association for Incurables, designed by architects Dick Peddie and George Washington Browne and completed in 1906

Liberton Hospital is a facility for geriatric medicine on Lasswade Road in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is managed by NHS Lothian. ^[1] It is scheduled to close in 2025. ^[2]

History

The hospital was designed by John Dick Peddie and George Washington Browne and opened in 1906. ^{[3] [4]}

Liberton operated in partnership with the Longmore Hospital and the two hospitals together became known as the Royal Edinburgh Hospital for Incurables. ^[5] The hospital joined the National Health Service in 1948 and a new four‑storey geriatric facility was built on the site in 1963. ^[3]

Redevelopment plans

In 2014, the health board considered proposals to demolish the hospital and three others, with a view to replacing these facilities with care villages which would consist of buildings more suited to social care. ^[6]

In April 2023 it was announced that Edinburgh Council had bought the hospital site and grounds from NHS Lothian for £14.8m. ^[2] The deal includes the former Blood Transfusion Centre. The council plans to build around 400 homes, a number of which will be accessible and for social or mid-market rent. The 1960s buildings are to be demolished and original Edwardian-era buildings redeveloped. The aim is to create an accessible neighbourhood of low-carbon housing. ^{[7] [8]}

Originally the NHS was to occupy the premises until March 2025 to allow the hospital’s remaining services to be relocated. ^[2] However, current plans suggest the Hospital at Home team and the Medical Day Hospital are to relocate to Ellen's Glen Hospital by the end of 2025. ^[9] The number of complex care beds are to be reduced in line with the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board strategic vision. ^[10]

References

1. "Liberton Hospital". NHS Lothian. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
2. Allison, Katy. "Purchase of Liberton Hospital paves the way for accessible low-carbon homes". The City of Edinburgh Council. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
3. "Liberton Hospital". Historic Hospitals. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
4. Liberton Hospital, Gazetteer for Scotland
5. "Royal Edinburgh Hospital for Incurables". Lothian Health Services Archive. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
6. "Hospitals facing care village axe". Edinburgh News. 9 April 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
7. "Liberton hospital consultation". The Edinburgh Reporter. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
8. "Drop-in events to showcase planned homes on Liberton Hospital site". Scottish Construction Now. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
9. Rachel_Howe. "Integrated Impact Assessment – Liberton Hospital reprovision". Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
10. "Edinburgh Integration Joint Board draft strategic plan - City of Edinburgh Council - Citizen Space". consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2025.