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As sheep farming developed on West Falkland, and settlements and shepherds with their families appeared there was an apparent need for medical care. West Falkland farmers agreed to employ their own doctor. A house provided on the hill above the creek ‘Doctor’s Creek’ about a mile from the settlement at Fox Bay East and in 1883 Dr Anderson was their first doctor, riding around the farms and going by boats to islands to visit his patients. He died at Doctor’s Creek on May 20th 1887 aged only 42 and is buried there. |
Ten years later, having returned to Banffshire his widow wrote an account of the sad event. ‘My husband was Dr Anderson H.M.Medical Officer in the West Falkland Island, the first and only doctor there; and there he died some ten years ago. When he grew ill, Dr Barrrington, of H.M.S. Ready, examined him, and told me that with rest he might recover but that work or exertion meant death. A woman, however, needed his services- a shepherd’s wife- and go he would. The woman‘s husband lifted him on to his horse, and together they rode forty miles cheek by jowl; for the doctor fainted more than once. But he saved the woman’s life, and the shepherd brought him back almost dead. My poor husband breathed his last just four days afterwards. I cannot help but thinking that my husband’s quiet heroism was noble. He left his young children and me, and went to his death for duty’s sake, but, not having been fifteen years in the Government service his only recognition was the shepherd’s tears.
After Doctor Anderson's untimely death Doctor Andrew Joseph Going was appointed doctor for West Falkland. He left good records of the then health of the West. |
Doctors Creek below the site of the old Doctor's House, a good fishing spot looking towards the new Government station at Fox Bay East
