Bedford Row Lying-In Hospital, 1868-1971

Context

Creator(s): Bedford Row Lying In Hospital

• Administrative History ↴

  The Bedford Row Lying-In hospital was founded in 1812 as a charitable institution to provide maternity care for the poor of Limerick city. The 1868 annual report outlined the important role of the hospital, noting that ‘those who have witnessed the sufferings of the wives and mothers of the poor who meet their hour of trial in a crowded hovel or dreary cellar can alone appreciate the benefits of this Institution, which secures to them safety, comfort and quiet, and in many cases provides clothing for both women and children' (P5/1). By 1898, the services of the hospital had expanded. The hospital acted as a training centre for nurses, a dispensary for treatment of diseases peculiar to women and children had been established, and the Child Welfare Committee operated a clinic for children from the basement of the hospital. From 1812 until 1960 the hospital was managed by a voluntary Ladies Management Committee, which was elected annually. The responsibilities and concerns of the management committee included the management of medical staff and financial affairs of the hospital, the maintenance of the hospital building, and improving the facilities and services at the Bedford Row hospital. The hospital was financed by fundraising activities of the committee, voluntary subscriptions, and by an annual grant from Limerick Corporation. Physicians gave medical service free of charge for destitute patients. Physicians also used the facilities of the hospital to care for private (fee-paying) patients. The management committee minute books (P5/26-28) and annual reports (P5/1- 25) frequently recorded the need for building work at the hospital to improve facilities and eliminate overcrowding. Whilst various improvements to the hospital building were carried out in nineteenth and early twentieth century, the financial resources needed to carry out a major building project, were not available to the committee. In 1930 the Public Charitable Hospitals Act established the Hospital Sweepstakes. The Bedford Row hospital, as a charitable institution, qualified for support from the Hospital Sweepstake fund and the financial position of the hospital became sound. The management committee decided to purchase a new site to build a new maternity hospital. In 1935 a site was purchased at Belfield Park, on the north side of the Shannon River. However plans to erect a new hospital were halted by the onset of World War II. In 1949 the Minister of Health announced plans to build a Limerick Regional Maternity hospital to service Limerick city and county, Tipperary and Clare, which was to be operated by Limerick Corporation. Limerick Corporation was instructed to compulsorily acquire the Belfield site for this purpose. External pressure was then put on for the closure of Bedford Row Hospital. The hospital was excluded from the Hospital Sweepstake funds, and the Corporation grant was withdrawn in 1956. However the hospital continued in operation until 1975. During this time, it mainly provided maternity care for private patients of the physicians rather than for poor of the city.

• Archival History ↴

  Donated by Bedford Row Hospital on its closure in 1975

• Immediate Source Acquisition ↴

  Donation