Founded 1755 in Nicholas Street as Chester Infirmary. From 1763 it was run by a Board of Guardians, and then from 1857 a Board of Management. It located to St Martins Way, Chester and was renamed Chester Royal Infirmary. The Infirmary occupies a pleasant situation near the city walls. It was established in 1755 by Dr Stratford of Chester, & is supported by the contributions of the charitable in Cheshire & North Wales. It is a neat & spacious brick building, four stories high, & has accommodation for 100 patients; & besides commodious rooms, for the respective officers, has cold, warm & shower baths, with every other convenience for the use & comfort of its inmates. There is also accommodation for fever patients, who may be admitted at any time on the payment from the parish of one shilling per day, A Dispensary isalso attached to the institute, & patients (when necessary) are attended at their own homes. There is, in connection with the institution, a library containing about 2000 volumes. The medical staff consists of 3 physicians & 3 surgeons, together with a consulting physician, a consulting surgeon, the house surgeon, & matron, by whom every assistance & kindness is rendered to the patients. The total number of patients that have been admitted into this Samaritan institute since its commencement is 230,075, exclusive of those who have been bled, had teeth extracted, & treated for accidents. The total number of in patients on March 25, 1857, was 74, since which 629 more have been admitted. Of these 296 have been cured, 104 relieved, 175 made out patients, 5 discharged for irregularity, 32 discharged at their own request, 3 absconded, 3 died & 55 still remaining on the books. The total number of out patients on March 25, 1857, was 84, since which 1781 have been admitted. Of these 1191 have been cured, 323 relieved, 63 made in patients, 189 died, & 100 still remain on the books.
The increase of all patients from the 25 March 1857 to the same time in 1858, was 1271. The total receipts of the institution for the past year were £2341.2s, being an increase of £50.10s upon the previous year. The total expenditure for the same period was £2304.15s. The balance due to the treasurer at the commencement of the year was £311.5s.1d, which has been reduced to £274.18s.1d. The ordinary expenditure (exclusive of repairs) is £78.13s.9d above the last year, but yet considerable repairs are needed to the institution, which cannot be made owing to the resources not being sufficient for them.
For the regulation of all matters relating to the admittance or discharge of patients, the governors meet every Tuesday in the board room.
Among the list of legacies left to the institution may be mentioned those of Edward Edwards esq, of £2338; Dr Cotgreave, £2000; William Sprout esq, £1000; the Right Hon Lady J Stanley, £1000; Mrs Brown, #1000; & William Wright esq, £800. In 1832 £1584.11s.6d was raised by the sale of a bazaar.
The present officers are: Drs Piggott & Cumming, consulting physicians;
Messrs R P Jones, Davies & Waters, physicians; Messrs Harrison, J Harrison,
& J Weaver, consulting surgeons; Messrs Brittain, J D WEaver &
W S Jones, surgeons; Mr Samuel Thomas Jephcott, house surgeon; Mr
Hugh Rees, assistant; Mr Snape, dentist; Mr J Jones, secretary & receiver;
Mrs Roberts, matron; Messrs Trevor, Roberts & Price, auditors; Rev
T E Thurland M.A., chaplain; & Mr Edward Boden, dispenser.