Fraser Darling's View Of Highland Medical Care

The “West Highland Survey: an essay in human ecology”, edited by Frank Fraser Darling, was published by the Oxford University Press in 1955. Fraser Darling (1903-79) was an English ecologist, ornithologist, farmer, conservationist and author who between 1939 and 1943 brought derelict land into agricultural production on Tanera Mòr in the Summer Isles. In January 1944 he met Tom Johnson MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, who was aware of Fraser Darling’s published works which included a popular weekly column on agricultural science syndicated in several Highland newspapers. They agreed his plan for a social and biological investigation into the problems of the West Highlands and for establishing an agricultural advisory and demonstration centre in the crofting areas. In Fraser Darling’s own words, the West Highland Survey was established “in order to examine in a spirit of scientific inquiry, to gather a solid body of facts for analysis and synthesis, which would serve as a foundation for a future policy for the region”. He continued: “The argument was maintained that if the problem were understood in its wholeness, solution would be possible”. In June 1944, a team which included Frank Fraser Darling as director and four young Gaelic-speaking field officers, began work. The resulting 438-page book includes the following account of the Highlands and Islands Medical Service, launched in 1913 and forerunner of the Scottish National Health Service. After thirty years, the surveyors regarded the service as an unqualified success, an enviable situation underlined by the number of able medics seeking work in the post-war Highlands.

MEDICAL PRACTICE, as it was understood forty years ago, was not an attractive professional career for a doctor in the West Highlands and Islands. He was working in an area which involved long and difficult journeys to visit patients who were in general unable to pay a reasonable professional fee. The doctors practised Robin Hood tactics as far as possible, but there were not enough well-to-do patients to bear the burden of medical attention to the remote crofting townships. The fact that there were doctors practising in these areas is testimony to the high spirit of service and to the reward of gratitude and love.

A government committee was appointed in 1912 to examine the situation and to advise. The committee’s work was thorough and parliament acted promptly, establishing the Highlands and Islands Medical Service Fund “for improving medical services, including nursing, in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and otherwise providing and improving means for the prevention, treatment, and alleviation of illness and suffering therein”. Grants covered a guarantee of minimum income to doctors; nursing services; specialist, hospital, and ambulance services, and the provision of telegraph and telephone services.