75th Anniversary

In the spring of 1946, Dr. Albert W. James announced the Laurinburg Hospital property on Church Street had been sold to the Scotland County Authorities due to his declining health. Two weeks’ notice was given to the community. The hospital was then closed, and the community was in limbo until a new proposal was established. In April of 1946, Mayor D.J. Sinclair, Messers. Edwin Pate and J. Dickens Phillips made the trip to the Capital city to plead with the Delegation to use the unused Laurinburg Maxton Air Force base hospital facilities with adequate equipment already in place. 
 
In April of 1946, the War Department transferred to the Towns of Maxton and Laurinburg and those two municipalities then transferred it to the hospital authorities. While preparing for opening, the hospital board hired Dr. F.M. Simmons Patterson to be the Chief Surgeon. 

An Open House was held on Sunday Sept 1, 1946 and over 2500 attended. Three wards were opened: Medical, obstetrical, surgical. Minor surgical cases began on Sept 2, 1946. Inpatient services began on September 4, 1946 and the first baby was born on September 5, 1946. 

Scotland Memorial Hospital has come a long way since 1946. What started out as “just a hospital” has grown into a full-service health care system consisting of over thirty services including a Duke Health affiliated Cancer Center, six primary care practices, three women’s health practices, two urgent cares with a third opening in early 2022 and seven specialty practices. Virtual visits and Telemedicine have been the most recent technological additions to accommodate patients.  

In 2022, Scotland Health will complete construction on a new practice location in Pembroke and a renovation in the Emergency Center. Plans for a new Surgical Services wing are coming in the near future. Scotland Health continues to be the largest employer in Scotland County. Investing in and providing safe, high-quality and convenient care to the counties Scotland Health serves continues to be a top priority.