Edinburgh Royal Maternity Hospital and Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion

Midwifery in Edinburgh, as a part of the medical curriculum, began in 1756 with Thomas Young, professor of midwifery.{{Cite web|title = University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections {{!}} Special Collections {{!}} Lecture notes on Midwifery (Professor Thomas Young, 1726-1783), taken down by person unknown|url = http://archives.collections.ed.ac.uk/repositories/2/resources/85223|website = archives.collections.ed.ac.uk|access-date = 2016-02-16}} Early provisions for midwifery consisted of four maternity beds at Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary in 1756.{{Cite web|title = Edinburgh Royal Maternity Hospital and Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion collection summary|url = http://www.lhsa.lib.ed.ac.uk/collections/LHB3/lhb3_tlfa.htm|website = lhsa.lib.ed.ac.uk|access-date = 2016-02-16|last = LHSA}} Young's predecessor, Alexander Hamilton, was responsible for establishing the independent Edinburgh General Lying-in Hospital which afforded students the opportunity for practical experience. ("Lying-in" is an archaic term for childbirth, referring to the long bedrest prescribed for new mothers in their postpartum confinement.) It was based at Park Place{{cite web|url=https://historic-hospitals.com/gazetteer/edinburgh/|title=Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion |publisher=Historic Hospitals|access-date=27 January 2019}} and opened in either 1791{{Cite book|title = A Tradition of Excellence: A Brief History of Medicine in Edinburgh|last = Blackden|first = Stephanie|publisher = Duncan, Flockhart & Co. Ltd.|year = 1981|location = Britain|pages = 14}} or 1793. It became known as the Edinburgh Royal Maternity Hospital in 1846.{{Cite web|title =Edinburgh Royal Maternity Hospital and Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion|url = http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/details.asp?id=867|publisher=National Archives|access-date = 17 February 2016}}

In 1879, using funds collected to commemorate Sir James Young Simpson's contribution to obstetrics, a purpose-built maternity hospital was opened in Edinburgh, to provide a facility where the poor could access medical supervision for childbirth. It was named the Edinburgh Royal Maternity and Simpson Memorial Hospital. The Married Women's Pavilion, which was located in the west wing under the original plans by architects MacGibbon and Ross, had to be postponed in 1879 due to insufficient funds.{{Cite web|title = Edinburgh Royal Maternity Hospital and Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion history|url = http://www.lhsa.lib.ed.ac.uk/exhibits/hosp_hist/ermh.htm|website = lhsa.lib.ed.ac.uk|access-date = 2016-02-18|last = LHSA}} It was eventually opened by Lady Candida Louise Hay, 10th Marchioness of Tweeddale in 1895.

By 1910, the capacity of the facility was under strain, and following the First World War, the hospital expanded into several flats in nearby Lauriston Park and Graham Street to cope with increased demand.{{Cite web|title = Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh History|url = http://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/OurOrganisation/AboutUs/OurHistory/Pages/RIEHistory.aspx|website = nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk|access-date = 2016-02-17|archive-date = 29 December 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141229002832/http://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/OurOrganisation/AboutUs/OurHistory/Pages/RIEHistory.aspx|url-status = dead}} Britain's first ante-natal clinic began at this site in 1915, to be followed, in 1926, by a post-natal clinic when the facility amalgamated with the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.{{Cite web|title = Edinburgh Royal Maternity Hospital and Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion collection summary|url = http://www.lhsa.lib.ed.ac.uk/collections/LHB3/lhb3_tlfa.htm|website = lhsa.lib.ed.ac.uk|access-date = 2016-02-17|last = LHSA}}

The new Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion, which was designed by Thomas W. Turnbull in the classical style, opened in 1939.{{cite web|url=https://historic-hospitals.com/2015/06/28/former-royal-infirmary-of-edinburgh-now-quartermile/|title=Former Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, now Quartermile|publisher=Historic Hospitals|access-date=27 January 2019}} The initial provisions of the hospital consisted of two lying–in wards, a labour ward, a dispensary, kitchens and administrative quarters, as well as quarters for the matron, two house surgeons and seven or eight nurses.{{Cite web|url = http://www.lhsa.lib.ed.ac.uk/collections/LHB3/LHB3.pdf|title = LHB3/3A Edinburgh Royal Maternity Hospital and Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion, 1768-2000|date = 17 February 2016|access-date = 17 February 2016|website = Lothian Health Services Archive|publisher = Lothian Health Services Archive}}

The facility was directly managed by the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, within a grouping of hospitals that would become the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh National Health Service Trust in 1994. After services transferred to the Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh's new site in Little France, the Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion closed in March 2002.{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/births-mark-end-of-an-era-and-a-new-start-1-605296|title=Births mark end of an era and a new start|date=4 March 2002|publisher=The Scotsman|access-date=27 January 2019}}

• Actor Sean Connery - 25 August 1930.{{cite news|last=Pendreigh|first=Brian|date=November 1, 2020|title=Obituary: The Sean Connery I knew|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/people/obituary-sean-connery-i-knew-3021532|work=The Scotsman| access-date=February 1, 2021}}
• The Beatles' original bassist Stuart Sutcliffe - 23 June 1940.{{cite web|url=https://www.beatlesbible.com/1940/06/23/stuart-sutcliffe-born/|title=The Beatles Bible - Stuart Sutcliffe is born|publisher=Beatles Bible|access-date=27 January 2019}}
• Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson - 10 November 1978.{{cite news|title=Scots Conservative leader Ruth Davidson to contest Lothians seat|url=http://news.stv.tv/scotland-decides/1326025-scots-conservative-leader-ruth-davidson-to-contest-lothians-seat/|access-date=24 August 2015|publisher=STV|date=6 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150816212649/http://news.stv.tv/scotland-decides/1326025-scots-conservative-leader-ruth-davidson-to-contest-lothians-seat/|archive-date=16 August 2015|url-status=dead}}

• Margaret Myles

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{{Health and care facilities in Edinburgh}}

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Category:1791 establishments in Scotland

Category:2002 disestablishments in Scotland

Category:Hospitals established in 1791

Category:Hospitals in Edinburgh

Category:Maternity hospitals in the United Kingdom

Category:Defunct hospitals in Scotland

Category:Sean Connery