MYRTLE STREET

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LIVERPOOL INFIRMARY FOR CHILDREN

Myrtle Street

The Liverpool Infirmary for Children was first established in 1851.

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Its Myrtle Street building opened in 1866. This building was later demolished but another building was erected on the same site and opened in 1907.

In 1917 the Children's Infirmary took over Thingwall Hall, near Barnston on the Wirral. This was quite a new small country children's hospital set up by two nurses who used to work at the Children's Infirmary.

Thingwall Hall was used to care for more long term patients.

In 1899 together with the West Kirby Convalescent Home for Children the Children's Infirmary set up the Hospital for the Treatment of the Chronic Diseases of Children.

In 1902 its name was changed to the Liverpool Country Hospital for Children. In 1909 it moved to its own newly built premises in Heswall. The following year the hospital was renamed the Royal Liverpool Country Hospital for Children.

In 1920, after years of discussion, the Liverpool Infirmary for Children and the Royal Liverpool Country Hospital for Children merged to become the Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital. What was the infirmary in Myrtle Street became the City Branch of the new hospital. It treated patients with acute illnesses and injuries.

The country hospital in Heswall became the Country Branch.

It cared for patients with chronic conditions or in need of long term hospitalisation. Thingwall Hall became part of the new hospital as well. It also provided longer term care.

In 1948 the Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital became part of the National Health Service. However the Liverpool Local Health Authority decided to concentrate paediatric services at Alder Hey Children's Hospital so the Country (Heswall) Branch closed in 1985. The City (Myrtle Street) Branch stopped offering in-patient services in 1989. Then in 1994 all other services were transferred to other facilities which led to the eventual closure of the hospital.