The hospital has its origins in an infirmary which was built for the South Shields Poor Law Union and which opened in 1880.

[2] Since then, most of the original Victorian buildings have been demolished,[5] with the exception of some service buildings, plus the former main entrance and its eastern wings, now known as the Harton Wing, which formerly served as the headquarters of South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, and now serves as offices for South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.

[6] The Trust won a contract from South Tyneside Council to develop an integrated care services hub, to be built as a standalone facility on the hospital site in August 2014.

[7] Sunderland and South Tyneside clinical commissioning groups decided in February 2018 to centralise hospital based stroke, maternity, gynaecology and paediatric services at Sunderland Royal Hospital, so the services at South Tyneside will be closed or downgraded.

A 14 hour a day, nurse led paediatric minor injuries and illnesses service at South Tyneside will be established in their place.