Malone Place Hospital (1860-1981) (the Belfast Midnight Mission).

A note by Dr H G Calwell t The archive of local medical history continues to grow, which is especially important at a time when so many hospitals are being closed or are losing their identity by being used for the treatment of other diseases than their founders intended. A recent example is Malone Place Hospital, Belfast. A brief history (1981) has been published. The author is Renee E Pelan. The story begins in 1860 when some Belfast ladies, being concerned about women and girls who frequented the public houses in Belfast, purchased four houses in Malone Place. The ladies went out at midnight and invited the women to the 'Belfast Midnight Mission' for the night. The homeless and strangers were helped to find homes and jobs. After 40 years, the plight of unmarried mothers was met by setting aside a room in the Home for confinements, and by 1903 there were 10 births, and in 1944 there were 1 16. Homes were found for the babies, some by adoption and some by fostering. A trained nurse and midwife had been appointed when the maternity work began. In 1922 it was decided to erect new premises, and an appeal for funds (estimated £8,000) was made by the President, the Duchess of Abercorn. The site and five adjoining houses were purchased, and the new hospital was opened in 1926. It was known as 'The Belfast Midnight Mission Rescue and Maternity Home'. The Northern Ireland Hospitals Authority purchased the complete hospital in 1949. Before this time the home had been under the supervision of the Belfast City Council and it received a grant from the Public Health Committee towards its work. It was non-denominational and open to all ministers and Christian workers. One of the Mission's tasks was to provide legal assistance and advice to help unmarried mothers to compel putative fathers to contribute towards the maintenance of children and the expense of maternity care. During the early years Dr Bell was the medical officer; she was succeeded in 1926 by Dr Elizabeth Robb. Antenatal care was undertaken, and three rooms were set aside for married mothers