Wallsend District Hospital officially opened on 22 April 1893, by the Post-Master General, Mr. J. Kidd, it provided for twenty-two patients and had two private wards. It was "able to open free of debt", funds having been raised by subscription from the local miners.

The first meeting to discuss the need for a Cottage Hospital in Wallsend was in October 1885, however due to some misunderstandings the Friendly Societies and Religious Ministers did not attend, and planning for the new hospital was delayed. It was not until 1890 that a public meeting was held at the School of Arts building in Wallsend, a subscriptions list issued, and plans made to find a suitable site for the hospital. Motions were moved by Alderman Richard Youll, Rev. J. E. Thompson, and Mr. W. G. Melville, Mr. Alex Ross the Manager of Wallsend Colliery was elected Chairman, and Mr. T. Abell was elected Secretary. Among the Committee members were Dr. John Brady Nash, and Mr. James Fletcher Jnr.

Dr. Nash, Dr. Thompson (Medical Advisor to the Government), Mr. House (Mayor of Plattsburg) and Mr. Hamilton (Hon. Secretary of the Ambulance) inspected sites for the new Hospital. The site at Brookstown Heights was found suitable and the Wallsend Coal Company donated three acres of land. Dr. Nash was responsible for having the hospital plans prepared and the cost of the building was expected to be £4,000.

At the first annual meeting of the Hospital Committee at the Mechanics' Institute in January 1893, Dr Nash and Rev Davies successfully moved that the name of the hospital be changed from Wallsend District Mining Hospital to Wallsend Mining District Hospital. "Some miners glibly paraphrased this to "We May Die Here", whilst others simply shortened it to "Nash's Folly"." Many miners preferred to be treated at home and needed assurance from Dr. Bean that they would not be taken to the hospital against their will.