St. Luke's Hospital, Rathgar

St. Luke's Hospital, Rathgar (formally Saint Luke's Hospital)
Cancer Association of Ireland
Geography
Location Rathgar, Dublin, Ireland, United Kingdom
Organisation
Care system Public NHS
Hospital type Specialist
Services
Speciality Cancer Radiotherapy
History
Founded 1952 by the Cancer Association of Ireland
Links
Website http://www.slh.ie/
Lists Hospitals in Ireland

St. Luke's Hospital, Rathgar, 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 and Children.[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.

Contents

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 chairman is Mr. Peter Byers, property developer.[4]

Recent history

The Department of Health and Children have decided 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. This effectively winds down St. Luke's Hospital from 2014.[5]

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.[6] This campaign includes famous figures from the world of Irish politics that have had first hand experience of St. Luke's including Ruairi Quinn.[7]

The future

The Minister for health plans to call the new Cancer Centre in St. James's Hospital "St. Luke's", so in this way at least the name of St. Luke's will live on.[8]

References

  1. ^ "St Lukes's & St Anne's Hospital". Trinity College, Dublin. http://www.tcd.ie/Health_Sciences/hospitals/stlukes.php. Retrieved 2010-08-29. 
  2. ^ "Saint Luke's Hospital, Dublin - History". Saint Luke's Hospital Website. http://www.slh.ie/history.php. Retrieved 2010-08-29. 
  3. ^ Dr. Bryan Kennedy (15 February 2010), Keeping Irish architecture alive, Letters, The Irish Times, http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2010/0215/1224264465859.html, retrieved 2010-08-29 
  4. ^ "Tue, Jun 30, 2009 - Byers to succeed Leech at Treasury". The Irish Times. 2009-06-06. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2009/0630/1224249782044.html. Retrieved 2010-08-29. 
  5. ^ "Government defends plans to devote week to legislation - The Irish Times - Thu, Jun 03, 2010". The Irish Times. 2010-06-03. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0603/1224271743106.html. Retrieved 2010-08-29. 
  6. ^ "Irish Times Article: “Campaigners for a lost cause?” « Save St Luke’s". Savestlukes.wordpress.com. 2008-08-25. http://savestlukes.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/irish-times-article-campaigners-for-a-lost-cause/. Retrieved 2010-08-29. 
  7. ^ "Quinn recounts cancer experience at St Luke's Hospital - The Irish Times - Fri, Jun 04, 2010". The Irish Times. 2010-06-04. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0604/1224271819476.html. Retrieved 2010-08-29. 
  8. ^ "St Luke's to move in new cancer plan". Irishhealth.com. http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=7926. Retrieved 2010-08-29.