Services offered at Church of Scotland Hospital
- Aged and Chronic Sick.
- Casualty Dept/Trauma.
- General Outpatients department.
- Dental Department – scaling and polishing, extractions and fillings.
- General Medical.
- General Surgical.
- Paediatric.
- Infectious Diseases.
- Maternity.
- Medical Laboratory Services.
- Theatres.
- Occupational Therapy.
- Orthopaedic.
- Physiotherapy.
- Psychiatric.
- Tuberculosis
- X-ray and Ultrasound.
- Audiology.
- Speech therapy.
- HIV medicine including ART and PMTCT.
- Child health services including immunizations.
- Women’s health services including contraception and cervical smears.
- Pharmaceutical services.
- Social work services.
- Occupational health services.
- Eye care services – optometry once per month.
- Dietetic services.
- Forensic services.
Services offered at PHC facilities
- Minor ailments.
- Chronic diseases.
- Maternal care including antenatal, deliveries, postnatal care and contraception.
- Child health including immunizations.
- Minor surgical care.
- HIV Medicine including VCT, PMTCT, ART.
- Infectious diseases.
- Medicines according to Essential drug lists.
- Basic special investigations, rest sent to hospital laboratory.
- Referral to district hospital or visiting health professionals.
- Visiting health professionals: Doctors, Rehabilitation, Mental Health, Dental, Eye Care, Social Worker, Dietician.
Other PHC Services
- Community Based Health Programme – Community Health Workers.
- School Health Services.
- Home Based Care.
In the 1870’s the Church of Scotland sent Dr Gordon, a missionary, to Umsinga area. Unfortunately he drowned at sea before reaching South Africa. Dr James Dalzell was sent as his replacement. Dr. Dalzell, a missionary, physician and surgeon was sent by the Church to spread the word of God to improve the health status of the community.
Dr. Dalzell established the Gordon Memorial Mission. He brought a piece of land and recruited a number of kraal heads from the community of Umsinga to work this land, with the aim of improving the nutritional status of the community. Dr. Dalzell was also responsible for establishing a primary and secondary school. Shortly before his death Dr. Dalzell established a clinic.
Dr Dalzell was succeeded by Dr Gale. He tried to develop the clinic but had difficulty due to the shortage of water in the area. In 1939, the clinic was moved closer to the Tugela River, where the present Church of Scotland Hospital is located.
Dr. Gale was the first Medical Superintendent for the hospital. Dr Mc Cutcheon was the last missionary Medical Superintendent to be the sent by the Church of Scotland. He left the hospital in 1978, when Church of Scotland Hospital was handed over to the government.