St. Luke's Hospital, Rathgar
| St. Luke's Hospital, Rathgar (formally Saint Luke's Hospital) | |
|---|---|
| Cancer Association of Ireland | |
 | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Rathgar, Dublin, Ireland |
| Organisation | |
| Care system | HSE |
| Hospital type | Specialist |
| Services | |
| Speciality | Cancer Radiotherapy |
| History | |
| Founded | 1952 by the Cancer Association of Ireland |
| Links | |
| Website | http://www.slh.ie/ |
St. Luke's Hospital, Rathgar, Dublin, Ireland, is a hospital which has specialised in treating cancer patients from throughout Ireland for over half a century. It is primary national centre for radiotherapy treatment.[1] 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.
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. The board of friends of St. Luke's is made up of volunteers, its chairperson is Aideen Goggin, a solicitor.[4]
Recent history
The Department of Health and Children decided on foot of the Hollywood report [5] to create cancer treatment centres of excellence in St. James's and Beaumont Hospitals. In 2010 Mary Harney, Minister for Health and Children, passed The Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. St Luke's Radiation Oncology Network (SLRON) Radiotherapy centres have been built within the grounds of Beaumont & St James's Hospital & operate currently as part of a three site network, St Luke's Hospital, Beaumont SLROC & St James's SLROC. The intention being to increase the size of the centres in Beaumont & St James's Hospital at a future date and transfer remaining services from St Luke's Hospital to the other two sites, reducing the SLRON network to two sites.[6]
Save St. Luke's Campaign
Since 2006 there has been a campaign to reverse the minister for health's decision to close St. Luke's.[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]
The future
The intention to move services from St Luke's Hospital to the other two SLRON sites, part of phase two of the NPRO (National Project for Radiation Oncology) is currently on hold as phase two commences for two other sites - Galway University College Hospital and Cork University Hospital, to upgrade their existing radiotherapy facilities. Phase two is not expected to commence in Dublin until phase two has been completed in Cork & Galway. As of September 2012 Tenders for Cork & Galway have yet to be issued.
References
- ↑ "St Lukes's & St Anne's Hospital". Trinity College, Dublin. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ↑ "Saint Luke's Hospital, Dublin - History". Saint Luke's Hospital Website. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ↑ Dr. Bryan Kennedy (15 February 2010), Keeping Irish architecture alive, Letters, The Irish Times, retrieved 2010-08-29
- ↑ "The Board". Retrieved 12 May 2015.
- ↑ "Hollywood Report" (PDF).
- ↑ "Government defends plans to devote week to legislation - The Irish Times - Thu, Jun 03, 2010". The Irish Times. 2010-06-03. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ↑ "Irish Times Article: "Campaigners for a lost cause?" « Save St Luke's". Savestlukes.wordpress.com. 2008-08-25. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ↑ "Quinn recounts cancer experience at St Luke's Hospital - The Irish Times - Fri, Jun 04, 2010". The Irish Times. 2010-06-04. Retrieved 2010-08-29.