Liverpool Hospitals - St Paul's Eye Hospital

 

 

St Paul's Eye Hospital was set up as a private charity in 1871 by Dr George Edward Walker. At that time it occupied three rooms in a house in St Paul's Square and cared for out-patients only, known as St. Paul’s Eye and Ear Infirmary. The following year the demand for the hospital's services made it necessary to buy the entire house at 6 St Paul's Square on Old Hall Street which allowed the hospital to open in patient facilities. In 1912 the hospital moved to a new building on Old Hall Street, the architect being John Clarke, at a cost of £17,760 to build and equip. However only £15820 had been collected leaving a balance of £1,940. Messrs. Bibby had sent them £100 and £50 had been promised from another source and with the City Council promising £1750 by the end of the year, it meant they would be practically debt free. It was opened by Lord Derby and Mr Frederick Stubbs, who presided over the proceeding, said had it not been for the striking generosity and the work of A. Booth that the hospital would not have opened that day. 

In the same year it changed its name to St Paul's Eye Hospital to show its specialism in this area.

In 1929 the great architect Herbert J. Rowse F.R.I.B.A. designed an extension The walls were built with multi-coloured deep red and purple toned bricks, the window frames being painted white. Truscon floors were adopted throughout this building. 

During the Second World War the building was taken over by naval medical services and only out-patient facilities remained there. In-patient facilities were transferred to Childwall where they shared premises with the David Lewis Northern Hospital. 

Returning to St. Paul's Square in 1946, the Eye Hospital remained operational until 1992, when it moved to the Royal Liverpool Hospital. In 1948 it became part of the National Health Service and also joined the United Liverpool Hospitals.

In 1992 St Paul's Eye Hospital was closed. Its services were transferred to the new St Paul's Eye Unit at the Royal Liverpool Hospital where it continues to provide a world-renowned ophthalmic service that goes back more than 150 years. It comprises of surgical and outpatient departments at Aintree University Hospital and Royal Liverpool University Hospital, a community centre for glaucoma patients in South Liverpool Treatment Centre, Garston and a screening service for diabetic retinopathy across a number of community locations. The unit also deals with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases of the eye and visual system, not only to the community of Liverpool, but to regional, national and international referrals. In 2015 representatives of St Paul's Eye Unit, based at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, were given the Freedom of the City and were presented with the award at Liverpool Town Hall where Lord Mayor of Liverpool Erica Kemp said the unit's "reputation for world class excellence" deserved to be recognised. 

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2025/05/liverpool-hospitals-newsham-park.html