The site at St Michael's has been a place of care and support for the community since at least 1856.

Originally a Poorhouse, it was built by Linlithgow Combination which dates from 1851 when parishes met to discuss the possibility of setting up a joint poorhouse. https://www.workhouses.org.uk/Linlithgow/

An infectious diseases hospital was built on an adjacent site in around 1900.^[2] The poorhouse infirmary and the infectious diseases hospital came together to form St Michael's Home and Hospital in 1932.^[2] The combined facility joined the National Health Service in 1948.^[2] The poorhouse building was demolished in 1969 and replaced with the most recent facility.^[2]

At a meeting of the Integrated Joint Board on 5 October 2022, the Board decided to approve the recommendations of a Report on St Michael's Hospital which included that the Board should:

"Approve consultation with the IJB’s Strategic Planning Group and community stakeholders, including service users, carers, and community groups, on the future requirement for beds in St Michael’s Hospital." (page 48 of the PDF below)

Linlithgow needs hospital care for the elderly to remain locally available. Armadale is not a viable alternative as those who need the service provision most will find it difficult to get there.

Candidate Sally Pattle says, ‘Although the stresses and strains on the Health Service are understandable as we come out of this pandemic, COVID 19 cannot be used as an excuse to reduce care services for the most vulnerable in our society.’

The Liberal Democrats believe that the best way to avoid the worst impacts of future health crises is to maintain strong local care services for all ages and needs, and we will campaign to keep St Michael’s Hospital in Linlithgow open.