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Donations from various quarters to establish a Convalescent Hospital in Aberdeen, as an adjunct to the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, had been gathering since 1868, but it was only in 1871 that the managers of the Infirmary began to seriously consider the matter. Plans were drawn up, sites inspected and similar hospitals visited with little progress until, in 1873, Lochhead House was purchased for £2,250. A large house of 32 apartments, situated between the extensive grounds of the Lunatic Asylum, Westburn House and Victoria Park, it was felt to be ideal for the purpose. After much needed renovations, patients were first received in February 1874. Although the numbers steadily increased, the bulk of the property was not needed for patient purposes and half the house, the stables and the cottage were put up for rent. This brought in much needed funds because although in the initial enthusiasm it was felt that the Convalescent Hospital would be well able to support itself, in reality after the first few years it was continually in debt, and as early as 1889 the question of closing the establishment altogether was considered.In September 1893 a plan to alter Cornhill Road was proposed and Aberdeen Asylum decided to buy the Lochhead property, which it did in 1894 for £3,800. Because of the great benefit the Hospital was felt to be giving, it was decided to build a new hospital, some distance from the filth of the town. In July 1895 the site at Hillhead of Pitfodels in Cults was chosen and work began. The Hospital and patients moved in 1897. The Convalescent Hospital never really managed to solve its financial problems, however, despite being alleviated from time to time with loans from the Infirmary - which nevertheless refused to give more concrete aid in the form of capitation fees for each patient they sent to convalesce. In 1948, under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1947 (10 & 11 Geo. VI, c.27), the Hospital was absorbed by the NHS and administered by the Aberdeen General Hospitals Board of Management. After the acquisition of the Red Cross Sanatoria (Tor-Na-Dee and Glen O'Dee) it was decided in 1962 to convert Glen O'Dee into a Convalescent Hospital and close the hospital at Cults. The last patients were received in 1964 and thereafter the building was put on a care and maintenance basis until it was sold in 1969. It now serves as the American School.
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