LIVERPOOL MATERNITY HOSPITAL

History tells us this was the first hospital of its kind in Liverpool. To begin with it was called the Lying-in Hospital and Dispensary for the Diseases of Women and Children. It was set up at Horatio Street, Scotland Road in November 1841. Then in October 1845 it transferred to new premises in Pembroke Place.

By the middle of the 19th century new but smaller premises were needed and a new hospital was built in Myrtle Street. This building opened in July 1862.

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At this time there was also a Ladies' Charity in Liverpool. This had been set up in 1796 to help poor women during childbirth. This was done by providing a midwife and where necessary, a doctor. The Ladies' Charity divided the town into districts, each of which had its own midwife and doctor. During the 1860's it was suggested that the Ladies' Charity and Lying-in Hospital should merge.

This merger was finally agreed in February 1869. Thereafter the hospital was known as the Ladies' Charity and Lying-in Hospital.

After much disagreement between the years 1879 and 1882 it was decided to separate the gynaecological and maternity work of the Hospital. As a result a new Lying-in (maternity) Hospital was built on a site at the corner of Brownlow Hill and Brownlow Street. This was completed in November 1884 and opened to patients in February 1885. The hospital stayed in these premises until a move to a new building in Oxford Street.

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The foundation stone of the Oxford Street hospital was laid in March 1924 and it was officially opened in September 1926. From this time onwards it was known as the Liverpool Maternity Hospital.

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In 1985 the Liverpool Maternity Hospital joined together with the Liverpool Women's Hospital and Mill Road Maternity Hospital under the control of the Liverpool Obstetric and Gynaecology Unit.

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In 1992 this became an NHS Trust and in 1994 it changed its title to the Liverpool Women's Hospital NHS Trust. In 1995 the three hospitals moved to a new shared site.

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The new Liverpool Women's Hospital was officially opened in November 1995.