Downe Hospital

File:The Derelict Old Downe Hospital viewed from the Killough Road (geograph 4138457).jpg

The hospital has its origins in the Down County Infirmary which opened in Saul Street in October 1767.{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/details.asp?id=3120&page=19|title=Downe Hospital|publisher=National Archives|accessdate=10 April 2019|archive-date=10 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410103855/https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/details.asp%3Fid%3D3120%26page%3D19|url-status=live}} It moved to the site of the old horse barracks in Barrack Lane, now Fountain Street, in 1774.{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=VlWkCgAAQBAJ&q=Down+County+Infirmary+1774+barracks&pg=PT87|title=Ireland and Empire, 1692-1770|first= Charles Ivar |last=McGrath|publisher=Routledge|year=2012|isbn=978-1851968961}}

A new infirmary was established at Pound Lane in 1834{{cite web|url=https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/jnnp/50/11/1397.full.pdf|title=The neurological practice of a district general hospital|publisher=Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry|year=1987|pages=1397–1401|accessdate=10 April 2019|archive-date=10 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410103904/https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/jnnp/50/11/1397.full.pdf|url-status=live}} but by the late 1970s it was already becoming apparent that it was incapable of further expansion.{{cite web|url=http://www.thedownrecorder.co.uk/pages/index.asp?title=From_the_pages_of_the_Down_Recorder%2C_February_7%2C_1978|title=Campaign for a new general hospital in Downpatrick|date=7 February 1978|publisher=Down Recorder|accessdate=10 April 2019}}

A modern hospital, which was designed by Scott Wilson Group{{cite web|url=https://www.e-architect.co.uk/ireland/downe-hospital|title=Downe Hospital|publisher=E-Architect|accessdate=10 April 2019|archive-date=1 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401113235/https://www.e-architect.co.uk/ireland/downe-hospital|url-status=live}} and built on Ardglass Road at a cost of £64 million, opened in June 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11826813|title=Downe Hospital A&E future to be decided|publisher=BBC|date=24 November 2010|accessdate=10 April 2019|archive-date=25 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425145426/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11826813|url-status=live}}

After services transferred to the new hospital, the old infirmary on Pound Lane closed and was acquired by a developer in November 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.thedownrecorder.co.uk/pages/?title=Old_Downe_Hospital_site_must_be_secured|title=Old Downe Hospital site must be secured|date=24 June 2015|publisher=The Down Recorder|accessdate=10 April 2019|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926154729/http://www.thedownrecorder.co.uk/pages/?title=Old_Downe_Hospital_site_must_be_secured|url-status=live}}

The redevelopment of the former hospital site at Pound Lane began in May 2018. The development includes a range of new social houses in the form of apartments, two and three storey homes and bungalows.{{cite web|url=http://www.thedownrecorder.co.uk/pages/?title=Planners_give_approval_for_latest_phase_at_housing_site|title=Planners give approval for latest phase at housing site|date=10 June 2020|publisher=The Down Recorder|accessdate=11 May 2021|archive-date=12 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512060329/http://www.thedownrecorder.co.uk/pages/?title=Planners_give_approval_for_latest_phase_at_housing_site|url-status=live}}

The Infirmary Building which fronts Pound Lane is a Grade B2 listed building and had received various small additions over the years. Most of these were stripped back after its closure to reveal the original Victorian Hospital. The Fever Hospital at the rear is also Grade B2 listed. Both buildings have been incorporated into the development plan as apartment blocks and work began on their restoration in April 2021.{{cite web|url=https://downnews.co.uk/downpatrick-hotelier-says-dont-bulldoze-our-listed-buildings/|title=Downpatrick Hotelier Says Don’t Bulldoze Our Listed Buildings|date=20 November 2012|publisher=Down News|accessdate=11 May 2021|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926154758/https://downnews.co.uk/downpatrick-hotelier-says-dont-bulldoze-our-listed-buildings/|url-status=live}}

The Downe's emergency department was temporarily closed on 30 March 2020 due to a lack of funding. A consultant led urgent care center opened in its place, offering non-life threatening treatment for unscheduled medical care. {{Cite news |date=2020-10-05 |title=Decision not to reopen Downe Hospital A&E as planned 'completely unacceptable' |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus/decision-not-to-reopen-downe-hospital-aande-as-planned-completely-unacceptable/39591941.html |access-date=2024-01-18 |work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://www.rqia.org.uk/inspections/view-inspections-as/map/downe-hospital/ Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority inspection reports]

{{South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust}}

{{Hospitals in Northern Ireland}}

{{authority control}}

Category:South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust

Category:Health and Social Care (Northern Ireland) hospitals

Category:Hospital buildings completed in 2009

Category:Buildings and structures in County Down

Category:Hospitals in County Down

Category:21st-century architecture in Northern Ireland