Battle lines have been drawn after NHS Tayside applied to remove title conditions from a former hospital site in Brechin.
Brechin Infirmary, which was deemed surplus to requirements in February, is comprised of land from two donations, including one from a former cabinet minister in 1866 who tried to stop Florence Nightingale’s medical reforms just 10 years earlier.
The health board wants the option to sell off the land and has applied to the Lands Tribunal for Scotland for the “complete discharge” of the title conditions.
The conditions ensure the land must be used for medical purposes, which would reduce the number of potential buyers and prevent the site from being put to alternative uses.
Brechin Healthcare Group (BHCG), which includes former and current healthcare professionals, has opposed the removal of title conditions and lodged a petition to save the site, which it wants to keep in community control.
Elements of the BHCG have taken issue with the health board’s claim the field “has never been used for healthcare purposes” and said it was used until the 1980s for an infectious diseases unit.
Angus Conservative MP Kirstene Hair said the group’s claims should be properly investigated.
She said: “This land was given to the people of Brechin so they could have a hospital.
“Brechin Infirmary was judged surplus to requirements as a hospital by NHS Tayside and in order to have more chance of selling the land, it wants to remove these stipulations.
“But there seems to be uncertainty over whether parts of the land were used for an infectious diseases unit until the 1980s. The notice says that is not the case.
“Before the original intended use is lost forever, there needs to be a full analysis of this statement.”
A spokeswoman for NHS Tayside said: “The NHS Central Legal Office (CLO) checked the legal title deeds and there is no note of an infectious disease hospital on the field, which is why it was not noted in the public notice.
“The CLO has also confirmed that the description of such a building on the site does not affect the request to the Lands Tribunal as the notice for the release of the titles under the Lands Tribunal relates to the land and the respective contents within the curtilage of the defined area.”
Angus Health and Social Care Partnership said there has been “some concern that Brechin Health Centre is under threat of closure” within the community following the application to the Lands Tribunal for Scotland.
It said there are no plans to close the health centre as it is “a vital part of health and care services in the north east locality”.
A spokesperson said: “Brechin Health Centre has not been declared surplus to requirements.
“It is important to try to achieve maximum value for money from the sale of the Brechin Infirmary and field sites as this money can then be reinvested in health and social care services.
“To this end, NHS Tayside’s property advisers recommended that the existing legal burdens on the land would restrict the opportunities for sale and prevent the site from selling for its best price.
“The public notice included mention of Brechin Health Centre as part of the site, but please be assured that NHS Tayside and Angus Health and Social Care Partnership remain committed to continuing to deliver health and social care services from Brechin Health Centre.”
The Bison and the Corn Merchant’s wife
Brechin Infirmary is comprised of land from two donations.
The first was from Sir Fox Maule-Ramsay, the 11th Earl of Dalhousie, in 1866 to erect Brechin Hospital and Infirmary “within two years”.
He was born in Brechin in 1801 and was a Liberal MP.
Whilst in office, he was nicknamed “the Bison” for his brawny physique and resolute temperament.
The Victoria Cross was introduced for bravery during his tenure as Secretary of State for War from 1846 to 1858.
He also had to deal with Florence Nightingale when she tried to instigate reforms in medical treatment.
‘The Bison’ informed Miss Nightingale that ‘the British soldier is not a remitting animal’ but she had the support of Queen Victoria.
Fox Maule died in July 1872 at Brechin Castle, aged 73, and was buried eight days later at Panbride.
The other donation from Margaret Smith to Brechin District Committee of the County Council of Forfar in 1897 to “erect a hospital or other substantial building or buildings and then maintain it/them in all time coming”.
Mrs Smith was married to Thomas Ogilvy. It is not apparently clear what their standing in the community was.
However, records from the period list a man of the same name as being a corn merchant.
