Glasgow's first treatment centre for cancer patients opened its doors at 400 St Vincent Street in 1886.

Called the Glasgow Cancer and Skin Institution, it was a humble beginning and in 1890 an appeal was launched to improve facilities. Enough money was collected to open a 10-bed hospital in Hill Street, Garnethill, that same year. Within three years the management had decided to limit the hospital to cancer patients and Dr George Beatson, who later received a knighthood, became the director.

Sir George, the son of Queen Victoria's honorary physician, was a pioneer in the battle against breast cancer and one of the founders of the St Andrew's Ambulance Brigade.

Under his leadership Glasgow Cancer Hospital, as it became known, grew and by 1896 it had moved to larger premises in Hill Street where it boasted 30 beds. Space was made for the study of cancer and during the following decades a research department was established that still exists today in the form of The Beatson Institute of Cancer Research based at Garscube.

Sir George died in 1933 and the hospital was renamed the Royal Beatson Memorial Hospital after the establishment of the National Health Service in 1948. However, patients continued to be treated on the same site for a further 40 years, moving into new buildings at the Western Infirmary in 1988.