In 1836, John Balfour of Trenabie set up a charitable trust for the founding of a hospital with the interest from £20,000 worth of Mexican government bonds.

In 1845, the trustees of the hospital fund bought the house from local merchant, James Shearer, together with the two large gardens and blacksmith's shop on the west side of the street, for £450.

[3] The Groundwater Suite opened in 2011, bringing a new operating theatre, a sterilising department, and new x-ray unit to the Balfour hospital.

[5][6][7] It is first hospital in the UK built to a net-zero standard, which means the running of the building does not contribute to carbon emissions.

[9] There are currently approximately 136 births a year at the maternity unit and it has full accreditation as baby friendly, since July 2014.