St. Luke's Hospital, Rathgar

St. Luke's Hospital (Irish: Ospidéal Naomh Lúcás), is a hospital in Rathgar, Dublin, Ireland which has specialised in treating cancer patients from throughout Ireland for over half a century. It is primary national centre for radiotherapy treatment.[1]

St. Luke's Hospital, Rathgar (formally Saint Luke's Hospital)
Health Service Executive
Shown in Dublin
Geography
LocationRathgar, Dublin, Ireland
Coordinates53.311134°N 6.268666°W / 53.311134; -6.268666
Organisation
Care systemHSE
TypeSpecialist
Services
SpecialityCancer Radiotherapy
History
Opened1952
Links
Websitewww.slh.ie

History

Opened in 1952, the hospital was founded by the Cancer Association of Ireland on the recommendation of a consultative body set in place by the Minister for Health.[2] The main building was designed by the Irish architect Thomas Kennedy.[3] He was awarded the RIAI Triennial Gold Medal for the period 1950–52 by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland for his design of St. Luke's Hospital.[4]

Following the publication of a report by Professor Donal Hollywood entitled "The Development of Radiation Oncology Services in Ireland" in 2003,[5] the Department of Health and Children decided to create cancer treatment centres of excellence in the Beaumont Hospital and St. James's Hospital. St Luke's Radiation Oncology Network (SLRON) Radiotherapy centres were built within the grounds of the Beaumont Hospital and St James's Hospital and operate as part of a three site network. Mary Harney, Minister for Health and Children introduced the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill which provided for the dissolution of the St Luke's Hospital Board and the transfer of the remaining services from St Luke's Hospital to the Health Service Executive.[6] Since then there has been a campaign to reverse the Minister's decision to close St. Luke's Hospital.[7] This campaign includes famous figures from the world of Irish politics that have had first hand experience of St. Luke's including Ruairi Quinn.[8] Mary Harney subsequently clarified, that even after oncology services were transferred, St. Luke's Hospital would be retained as a public health facility.[9]

Friends of St. Luke's

St. Luke's has been significantly funded over the last three decades by a dedicated charity, Friends of St. Luke's.[10]

References
  1. "St Lukes's & St Anne's Hospital". Trinity College, Dublin. Archived from the original on 9 March 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  2. "Saint Luke's Hospital, Dublin - History". Saint Luke's Hospital Website. Archived from the original on 12 October 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  3. Dr. Bryan Kennedy (15 February 2010), "Keeping Irish architecture alive", The Irish Times, Letters, retrieved 29 August 2010
  4. "Kennedy, Thomas Paul". Dictionary of Irish Architects. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  5. "The Development of Radiation Oncology Services in Ireland" (PDF). Health Service Executive. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  6. "Government defends plans to devote week to legislation - The Irish Times - Thu, Jun 03, 2010". The Irish Times. 3 June 2010. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
  7. "Irish Times Article: "Campaigners for a lost cause?" « Save St Luke's". Savestlukes.wordpress.com. 25 August 2008. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
  8. "Quinn recounts cancer experience at St Luke's Hospital - The Irish Times - Fri, Jun 04, 2010". The Irish Times. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
  9. "St Luke's to be retained as public health facility". Irish Times. 25 June 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  10. "The Board". Friends of St. Luke's. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
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