the south infirmary was established by a catholic charity and officially opened in 1762. meanwhile the victoria hospital for women and children, which had been established by a protestant charity and opened at union quay in september 1874, moved to pope's quay october in october 1876 and then re-located to a site adjacent site to the south infirmary in september 1885. the two hospitals officially merged as the south infirmary-victoria hospital in 1988. after a name change to south infirmary-victoria university hospital in 2005, the hospital expanded with three new operating threatres being completed in 2012.