Health Board Accommodation

NHS Dumfries and Galloway offer Accommodation to medical students, Trainees and medical locums.

If there is space available, new medical staff are allowed to stay for up to 12 weeks to allow time to get settled in the area and find other accommodation. You can request to stay longer while you find other accommodation in the area, however, this is only based on availability. If your contract is for 6 months or less then you are able to stay longer than the 12 weeks. Accommodation can also be requested by a new member of staff coming from outwith the area or AHP students, however it depends on availability.

We offer accommodation on three of our sites, read below for more information on each site. Please also refer to our Frequently Asked Questions at the bottom of this page.

Mountainhall

Our Mountainhall site can accommodate 67 people. It is based in the town centre of Dumfries. The accommodation sits right next to Mountainhall Treatment Centre and our Dental Centre, it is a short walk to The Willows which some of our Women and Children’s services run from.

Travelling to DGRI:
Car: 10 minutes
Bus: 10 minute walk to the bus stop at the Loreburn centre, then get the 111 route to DGRI. The journey time is 20 minutes. Click here for the bus timetable, buses run from 6am every 30 minutes until 9am, and then they run every 20 minutes for the rest of the day until 10pm.
Cycle: Cycle routes can be viewed by clicking here. It can take around 25 minutes to cycle. There are bike storage facilities at DGRI and there are also shower and changing facilities available. Why not try our electric bikes? These are free to use when travelling from Mountainhall to DGRI for all staff (a short training session must be completed first).
Walking: 1 -1.5 hour

Travelling into town:
Mountainhall is a 10 minute walk until you get to the town’s parks, shops, bars and restaurants. If driving into town, there is plenty of free parking around the town centre. You may need to show a parking disc in certain areas, please click here for more information on how to get one for free.

Travelling out of town:
Train : Dumfries Train Station is a 5-10 minute drive, 15 minute cycle and 30 minute walk away.
Bus: Our main bus stop is based on the Whitesands – it is just 5 minute drive, 7 minute cycle or 20 minute walk away.
Cycle: There are loads of cycle routes around the region. Please click here to view.

Need a taxi: For our local taxi services please click here.

The Crichton Gardens - just a 2 minute walk from Mountainhall accommodation

Our accommodation at Mountainhall all have a private, spacious bedroom; a communal kitchen, bathroom and living area; and some of our houses have a shared garden. Free parking is available. There is a laundry room (located in Block A10 ) and a TV room (located in Block B3) on site.

Most of our accommodation offerings on this site are 2 bedded. There is one 3 bedded house and 4 single occupancy accommodation units. We are currently working on refurbishing our accommodation on this site.

Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary

At our DGRI site can accommodate 104 people. It is based round the back of the DGRI building and looks on to the beautiful countryside.

Travelling into town:
Car: 5 minutes. If driving into town there is plenty free parking around the town centre. You may need to show a parking disc in certain areas please click here for more information and details of how to get one for free.
Bus: You can get the 111 route to the town centre from the entrance of DGRI. The journey time is 20 minutes. Click here for the bus timetable, buses run from 6am every 30 minutes until 9am, and then they run every 20 minutes for the rest of the day until around 10pm.
Cycle: Cycle routes can be viewed by clicking here. It can take around 15 minutes to cycle into the town centre.
Walking: 30 minutes

Travelling out of town:
Train: Dumfries Train Station is a 10 minute drive, 20 minute cycle and 45 minute walk away.
Bus: Our main bus stop is based on the Whitesands – it is just 5 minute drive, 15 minute cycle or 30 minute walk away.
Cycle: There are loads of cycle routes around the region. Please click here to view.

Need a taxi: For our local taxi services please click here.

Our accommodation offerings at DGRI all have a private bedroom with an en-suite. You will usually share with 3 others in the flat and have access to a communal kitchen and living area. Each flat has its own washing machine and tumble drier. There is access to landscaped grounds and a secluded outside seating area. Free Parking on site.

Galloway Community Hospital

Our site in the West of the region can accommodate up to 5 people. It is based right next to the Galloway Community Hospital. Our accommodation offerings at the Galloway Community Hospital all have a private bedroom with a communal kitchen, bathroom and living area. There is also a washing machine and tumble drier available. Free parking on site.

Travelling to Dumfries:
Car: 1 hour 40 minutes.
Bus: It is an 11 minute walk to the bus from the Port Rodie bus stop. The bus journey to Dumfries is around 2 hours 30 minutes. Please check the timetable by clicking here.

Travelling into town:
Car: 2 minute drive. If driving into town you may need to show a parking disc in certain areas, please click here for more information and details of how to get one for free.
Cycle: 5 minutes.
Walking: 5- 10 minute walk to the main High Street.

Travelling out of town:
Train: Stranraer Train Station is located on the harbour in town which is a 25 minute walk or 5 minutes by car.
There are also Barrhill and Girvan Stations in the West of the region, which is a 45 minute to 1 hour drive from Stranraer.
Bus: It is a 11 minute walk to the nearest bus stop. Check bus timetables by clicking here.
Cycle: There are loads of cycle routes around the region. Please click here to view.

Need a taxi: For our local taxi services please click here.

Accommodation FAQ's

Do you provide family accommodation?
No, we do not provide family accommodation. If you need information on temporary or permanent accommodation for you and your family in the area, please click here.

Do you offer accommodation for couples?
We only offer couples accommodation if you and your partner are both working for NHS Dumfries and Galloway. Due to availability, this cannot be guaranteed, but requests will be accommodated where possible.

If I work at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, will my accommodation be based there?
Our accommodation at DGRI is prioritised for students and trainees. If there is accommodation available, you will be placed here. There are options to move to DGRI site for short term when students are not in occupancy (summer months). Please speak with the Residence Manager if you wish to discuss this further.

What is provided in my accommodation?
In each private bedroom you will be provided with a bed, bedside table, desk, chair, lamp, bin, cupboard, drawers, small mirror, towels and sheets. You may wish to bring your own duvet cover for comfort.

The communal kitchen has basic cooking utensils and equipment.

Are there laundry facilities available?
At the Mountainhall site there is a laundry room located in Block A10.

At DGRI there is a washing machine and tumble drier in each flat.

At the Galloway Community Hospital there is a washing machine and tumble drier available.

There are also local laundry services available offsite.

Does the accommodation have WIFI?
Yes, each accommodation has free WIFI available.

When can I move in?
Your move in date will be 1-2 days before your start date. If you need to come earlier, you can make a request with the Residence Manager, however this will depend on availability.

Where do I collect my keys?
Keys will be available from the hospital switchboard which is located just inside the front door of Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary. Go through the main doors into the Atrium and you will see a small hatch to your right and a door – press the buzzer at the door for assistance. When leaving your accommodation, please vacate your room by 10.00am and return your keys to switchboard.

Will my accommodation have en-suite facilities?
All DGRI accommodation has en-suite. All other sites have a shared bathroom with 1-3 individuals.

Will I be sharing with someone of the same gender?
Yes, unless you are a student where we may have mixed gender accommodation.

Where can I find temporary/permanent accommodation?
Please click here for further information on relocating and housing.