Diseases & Drs

Former Shaftesbury Square Hospital, Great Victoria Street. Former Shaftesbury Square Hospital, Great Victoria Street. Gift of life sculpture, Botanic Gardens. This sculpture commemorates those who have given people a chance to live through organ donation. Gift of life sculpture, Botanic Gardens. This sculpture commemorates those who have given people a chance to live through organ donation. Entrance to former Ormeau Public Baths, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast. Former TB Institute, Durham Street, Belfast. Sir James Murray lived in a house on this site. He was a physician that invented Milk of Magnesia. Blue Plaque to Dr James McDonnell (1763-1845) in Belfast. Former Shaftesbury Square Hospital, Great Victoria Street. Memorial statue of Professor Frank Pantridge (1916-2004) who invented the portable defibrillator, in Lisburn, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The tower at Belfast City Hospital, south Belfast. Current use for the remaining buildings of the Belfast Union Workhouse Infirmary located at the Belfast City Hospital. Original buildings of the Belfast Union Workhouse Infirmary being used today as Day Procedure Unit at Belfast City Hospital. Plaque commemorating the opening of the City Hospital Tower at the City Hospital. Ella Pirrie statue, Belfast City Hospital. Superintendent and Head Nurse at the Belfast Union Workhouse Infirmary. Part of the Ella Pirrie statue, Belfast City Hospital. Superintendent and Head Nurse at the Belfast Union Workhouse Infirmary. Former buildings of the Ormeau Public Baths, Ormeau Road, south Belfast. Blue plaques for Dr William Drennan and Sir Samuel Davidson at the First Presbyterian Church, Rosemary St.

This one-and-a-half hour Belfast history walking tour gives a broad overview of the city’s medical history.

It tells of the first hospital in Belfast; Victorian anti-vaxers; tea mania causing ‘insanity’; the detrimental impact of eating sewage polluted sea food and how working in the linen mills could wreck your lungs, rot your feet and cut off your arm.

You will learn about the sad tales of the Belfast Blitz, the biggest health emergency, how pandemics and epidemics ravaged the city and how poor housing, poverty and poor diet destroyed the health of many Belfast residents.

Finally, you will meet uplifting and inspiring individuals who aimed to better the health of Belfast and its citizens such as social activist Mary Ann McCracken, the inventor of the milk of magnesia Sir James Murray and revolutionary doctor William Drennan.

This walking tour is an introduction to the diseases, doctors and medical history of the city and you don’t need to be a clinician to enjoy it!

Book this tour by emailing contact@drtomstours.com

DETAILS

START: The tour is 1.5 hours; departs from outside Ulster University Private Car Park (outside, near Quakers’ Meeting House), 45 Frederick Street Belfast BT1 2LW. Times will be arranged in advance (for private tours).

LANGUAGE: All tours are delivered in English.

MEET: Ulster University Private Car Park (outside, near Quakers’ Meeting House), 45 Frederick Street Belfast BT1 2LW.

END: Approximately 1.5 hours later near or at Belfast City Hall, Donegall Square North, Belfast BT1 5GS.

COST: 22.50 GBP per adult (16 and over); minimum group is 5 adults, maximum is 15.

INCLUDED: tour guide.

EXCLUDED: refreshments/transport.