LIVERPOOL EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY

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The Liverpool Ophthalmic Infirmary was founded in August 1820, in a house at the corner of Wood Street. In 1841, at a public meeting of the town, it was united with the Ear Institution and assumed its new name of the Liverpool Eye and Ear Infirmary. About this date it moved to a House in Harford Street, Mount Pleasant.

 

In 1851 or 1852 larger premises were secured at the top of Mount Pleasant and the ever increasing work of the Charity was carried on there till the removal to the new building in 1881.

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The following account of this building in Myrtle Street is condensed from Sir H. C. Burdett's well known work 'Hospitals and Asylums of the World'.

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The Infirmary is built in the shape of an 'E' (on its back) the principle frontage being in Myrtle Street. This frontage is bisected through its whole length by a corridor with a staircase at each end.

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In the basement are the kitchen, offices and store rooms, with furnace for the heating apparatus. There are two covered airing courts and a space for a laundry.

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On the Ground Floor the front part was devoted to residence for officers; the main entrance, with porters room and small waiting room and the board-room.

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The left wing on the ground floor contained the out-patient waiting room, consultation room, dark room and dispensary.

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On the first floor one wing was arranged to hold fourteen beds with lavatories, bathrooms and nurses kitchens for female patients. the corresponding wing to hold sixteen beds for males.

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On the second floor the wards were arranged in a similar manner.

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In the front of the building on the first and second floor were day rooms for the patients and nurses sitting rooms. At the back of the building and over the board room were the operating theatres, one on each floor.

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According to the 1902 Annual Report 6,698 new eye cases and 2,154 new ear cases were seen and prescribed for 28,617 times in the out-patients during the year 1902 and 613 important operations were performed.

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It was under this Charity that operations, under chloroform, were first performed in Liverpool.

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