History

Castle Craig Hospital was founded by Peter McCann and his wife Dr. Margaret Ann McCann in 1988. Their involvement in the field of addictive disease treatment began with the founding of a treatment centre in Wiltshire in 1983. Extensive consultation was involved in the development of this treatment approach including visits to the United States. In particular Peter received enormous support, encouragement and guidance from the directors of the famous Hazelden centre in Minnesota. Having successfully directed the programme at Clouds from 1983 for five years, during which time it developed an international reputation, Peter returned to his Scottish roots in 1988 when he and Margaret Ann moved to Scotland to again pioneer the twelve step abstinence-based model of care.

Castle Craig is a mansion house built two hundred years ago by the Earl of Hyndford who was a Carmichael. The estate itself goes back into the mists of time. Castle Craig has retained many of its original features including magnificent fireplaces, marble pillars, exquisitely carved panelling and furniture and many other features. The first task on taking over the building was to restore the décor in keeping with the period whilst converting the building into a 55 bed hospital.

Over the next 18 years other parts of the estate have been developed, in particular the coach houses and other ancillary buildings, which together with purpose built additions, make up the 67 bed Extended Care Unit. The very latest development is a courtyard complex incorporating the listed gatehouses. This will provide guest accommodation for family visitors, the family programme residents and former patients or alumni wishing to spend a time of renewal at Castle Craig.

More importantly, our development has been enhanced by many initiatives to improve the treatment services and the delivery of the programme, which is continually reviewed in the light of international research and consultation. We receive excellent Care Commission Reports and ISO 9001 accreditation has been established for the last 12 years.

Castle Craig Hospital is an internationally recognised Preferred Provider for medical insurance companies in the UK, Dutch companies and US insurance companies. Castle Craig has also been awarded a major contract with Scotland’s largest health board for over 12 years. It regularly receives statutory funding on behalf of patients from many other health boards in Scotland, health authorities in England, and UK-wide local authorities.

The Directors, staff and Castle Craig itself are members of many professional, educational and training organisations both international and national. Notable amongst these is the Chairman’s membership on the Board of the International Council on Alcohol Addictions. The Chairman founded the European Association for the Treatment of Addiction and has retained a seat on the Board for the past 12 years.

Castle Craig’s popularity with Dutch patients has been helped by the running of an efficient office in The Hague under a local Director, Frances Beek, for the past five years.

The coat of arms

Please click on any of the detail to see an explanation of the features. Every feature on the Coat of Arms has a particular significance to Castle Craig and its purpose.