History of the South Eastern Health Board 1971 - 2004

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Authors South Eastern Health Board (SEHB)

Publisher South Eastern Health Board (SEHB)

Download date 26/09/2021 01:44:38

Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10147/251495

Find this and similar works at - http://www.lenus.ie/hse THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

South Bord Eastern Slainte Health an Oir- Board ' Dheiscirt

1971 - 2004 HSE South East Library Service, Lacken, Dublin Road, Kilkenny, Ireland.

Feidhmeannacht na Seirbhise Slainte Telephone: 056 7784174 Health Service Executive Fax: 056 7784398 Email: [email protected] Web: www.hselibrary.ie/southeast With compliments Ml THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

1971 - 2004

Published May 2005

Typesetting and Printing by: KILKENNY PRINT & GRAPHICS LTD., Hebron Business Park, Kilkenny. Tel: (056) 7765902 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgements 5

Foreword - Chief Executive Officer 7

Chapter 1 - Introduction 9

Chapter 2 - Acute Hospitals 19

Chapter 3 - Community Care 59

Chapter 4 - Mental Health and Services for Older 79 People and People with Disabilities

Chapter 5 - Central Services 109

Chapter 6 - Board Members 119

Chapter 7 - Management Team 129

Chapter 8 - What It Said In The Papers 135

Chapter 9 - Sporting Lives 147

Chapter 10 - Epilogue 163 -...:«£'/££88^ •.'.' ?f .C.'J THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks are due to the many people who helped in the Eugene Halley, Jeanne Hendrick, Dr. Jim Morrison, production of this History of the South Eastern Health Mick McCauley, Loughlin Nolan, Sarah O'Keeffe, Board. Cathal O'Reilly, Patricia Sullivan, Kathleen O'Toole, Con Pierce, Jo Redmond, Peter Ryan, Dr. Neville De I was honoured to have been asked by the CEO, Pat Souza, Dara Purcell and Tom Brett. McLoughlin, to undertake the task and I thank him for his encouragement and help at all times. I am also grateful to those people who shared their memories and made some useful suggestions. While researching the book, I received assistance from many friends and former colleagues in the health Unfortunately it was not possible to include all items service. Seamus O'Doherty, Ann Tierney and Audrey submitted due to restrictions on space. The selection of Lamboum read early drafts and I am grateful to them for photographs caused some headaches and a random their constructive criticism. Seamus also researched and selection of a small number from each county in the compiled Chapter 9, recognising the sporting region are included. achievements of many of our staff, both past and present. I would, in particular, like to thank Deirdre The task of choosing a number of employees to profile Dunne who read and edited the final text. was not an easy one. In an organisation employing thousands of people, a wealth of talent was available for Early drafts were typed by Bernadette Prendergast and I consideration from staff who gave outstanding service wish to thank her and other staff in St. Luke's Hospital, over the past 34 years. Many were considered, but all Clonmel, especially Michael Boland, for all their help. could not be chosen. Having consulted with senior staff, I have included what I hope is a representative selection The final manuscript was typed by Anne Bolger and her of people, who served throughout the region. accuracy, speed and good humour made it a pleasure to work with her. I am grateful to Jim Fogarty, County My main sources of information were, the Annual Librarian, Kilkenny, and his staff for all their help and Reports/Estimates of the SEHB 1972-2004, minutes of courtesy extended to me. the monthly meetings of the SEHB, Newsletters of SEHB 1995-2004 and reports of board meetings in local I am most grateful to the following who supplied me newspapers in the region. with information and photographs or helped me in other ways: Ann Anglesey, Mairead Brett, Tom Buckley, Eamonn Lonergan Seamus Butler, Mairead Cantwell, Jim Creagh, Elaine February 2005 Daly, Patricia Doheny, Austin Flynn, Tony Gyves, ~~|Sfr3lp^-= ^ ^ ~ THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD FOREWORD - CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Examining the contents of this History of the SEHB, we can be very proud of the achievements and develop­ ments which nave taken place over the past 30 years.

The SEHB has grown enormously between 1971 and 2004 - both in tne number and size of its facilities and in the extent of the services it delivers. Taking over the running of the regional health services in the early 1970s was a challenge - communications and infrastructure were poor, money was scarce and services were limited. From the beginning, the SEHB laid out its vision and plans for the delivery and development of services. The service provided to the public of our region today is in stark contrast to what they have left behind them a legacy of dedication and was available in the early '70s. This success is due in no commitment. small way to the sheer dedication by the various management teams and their staff down through the I would particularly like to thank Eamonn Lonergan for years. Two people who played enormous roles in this his research skills in compiling and writing this history. transformation were my two predecessors as Chief Eamonn, who is himself a retired member of our staff, Executive Officers - Peter McQuillan and John Cooney has often burned the midnight oil over the past year - whose persistence in often very difficult times resulted gathering the information, sifting through photographs in achieving the best for the people of the region. and delving into records in many libraries in order to give us a general flavour of the Board's business over the Of course, the Boards of the SEHB were instrumental in past 30 years. I congratulate him on this publication and the strategic development and planning of services - wish him success in his future historical ventures. both at a local and regional level. Members worked tire­ lessly to ensure that the people they represented were I would also like to thank the editorial and secretarial heard and their needs identified. The input of the Board team for their support to Eamonn over the past year, and members is illustrated throughout this commemorative to the many members of staff, past and present, Board history in relation to the various discussions and debates members and the public who provided them with which took place in the Board Room over the years. information and photos.

This publication is a tribute to the many people, past It is fitting that in this year of change, we should mark and present, who gave their time, expertise and talents the success of the South Eastern Health Board. to the development and delivery of our health service. As you will read, many people who made enormous Pat McLoughlin contributions over the years have since passed on, but Chief Executive Officer THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD REAMHFHOCAL AN PHRIOMH OIFIGIGH FHEIDHIUCHAIN Nuair a dheanaim scrudu ar an meid ata faoi tharla sa seomra Boird ins na blianta ata thart. chaibidil ins an leabhran staire seo i dtaobh Bord Slainte an Oir-Dheiscirt, mothafm brod as an meid Ta an leabhar seo mar omos don oll-mheid daoine ata bainte amach agus an fhorbairt ata tarlaithe le 30 san la inniu agus cheana a thug a gcuid ama, bliain anuas. saineolas agus buanna ar mhaithe le forbairt agus solathair na seirbhfse slainte. Thainig fas oll-mhor ar Bhord Slainte an Oir-Dheiscirt Mar a leifidh tu, ta ana chuid acu siud a thug uatha idir 1971 agus 2004 - nf h-amhain i lion agus meid a go mor anois imithe ar shlf na ffrinne ach ta gcuid seirbnise ach i reimse leathain na seirbhfse a oidhreacht i dtearmaf duthrachta agus dualgas fagtha sholatharafodh. Ba dushlan e riaru na seirbhfsf acu linn. reigiunda slainte i dtus na seachtoidf - nf raibh cursaf cumarsaide na infrastructure ro-mhaith, bhf airgead Ba mhaith liom ach go hairithe bufochas a ghabhail gann agus bhf teorainn ar seirbhfsf.6n tus, shocraigh le Eamonn Lonergan maidir lena scileanna taighde Bord Slainte an Oir-Dheiscirt ffs agus plean maidir le d'usaid chun an stair seo a scrfobh. Is iar ball foirne solathair agus forbairt ar seirbhfsf. Ta na seirbhfsf ata e Eamonn agus ta ana fhuinnimh caite aige sa toir ar inniu ar fail do phobail an reigiuin ana fhada on meid eolas agus griangrafanna. Ta sar obair deanta aige ag a bhf ar fail ag tus na seacntoidf. D'eirigh linn an scrudu na taifid agus na leabharlannaf chun bias a eacht seo a bhaint amach agus ana bufocnas ag dul thabhairt duinn ar ghnoithf an Bhoird le 30 bliain do na foirne bainaistafochta eagsula agus a gcuid anuas. Traoslafm leis ar an bhfoilsiuchain seo agus lucht foirne sfos trf na blianta. Ar bheirt acu siud a gufm gach rath air sa todhcaf agus e ag pie le abnar d'imir sar phairt ins an gclaochlu seo, bhf an da staire. Phrfomh Oifigigh Fheidhiuchain a chuaigh romham - Peter McQuillan and John Cooney. Bhf an cur chuige Ba mhaith liom chomh maith, bufochas a ghabhail acu in amannta deacair mar bhunus le dea-thorthaf leis an bhfoireann eagartha agus runafochta a bhf ina maidir leis an gcuid is fearr a ghnothu don bpobal sa thacafocht ag Eamonn le blian anuas, agus leis na reigiun. baill foirne reatha agus iar bhaill, na Baill Boird agus daoine sa phobal a thug eolas agus pictiuirf. Gan dabhat, bhf pairt suntasach chomh maith ag na Boird eagsula ins an fhorbairt straiteiseach agus Ta se oiriunach ins an bliain cinniunach seo i pleanail ar na seirbhfsf, ar bhonn aitiul agus reigiu- dtearmaf athru agus leasaithe go bhfuilimfd ag nach. D'oibrigh baill Boird gan stad chun cinntiu go marceail eacht Bora Slainte an Oir-Dheiscirt. raibh guth na ndaoine a dheineadar ionadafochta doibh cloiste agus aitheantas tugtha ar a gcuid riach- Pat McLoughlin tanasaf. Ta ionchur na baill leirithe ins an leabhar Prfomh Oingeach Feidhmiuchain. comoradh seo maidir leis an pie agus dfospoireacht a THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD CHAPTER I - Establishment of the South Eastern Health Board

First meeting of the Board, November 1970, Grangegorman, Dublin |

The South Eastern Health Board (SEHB), which had Waterford and Wexford, the Board oversaw major been responsible for the administration of health improvements and expansion in the provision of services in the South East since April 1971, ended its services. It is fitting, therefore, that the contribution corporate existence on 31st December 2004. Since of employees and Board Members to the delivery of it first assumed responsibility for health services in health services in the South East over the past three counties Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, decades should be recorded. 1 - Establishment of the South Eastern Health Board

Prior to the establishment of the regional Health 1. The state had taken over the major share of the Boards, the health services in Ireland were adminis­ costs of running the services, which were tered by the local County Councils except in Dublin, increasing substantially every year. It was, Cork, Limerick and Waterford, where the service was therefore, desirable to have a new administrative managed by joint Health Authorities. framework to combine national and local interest.

During the 1960s, many reports were published on 2. It was becoming more and more obvious that, in the health services, in particular a Government White order to develop the medical service itself, Paper in 1966, which outlined government policy on especially in relation to acute hospital care, it the future administration of the service. The White would be necessary to have the organisation on an Paper proposed that legislation should be introduced inter-county basis. It was clear that the county as to transfer health administration from the existing a unit was unsuitable, it was too small as an area local authorities to regional boards. A further three for hospital services. Indeed, the removal of years elapsed before the Health Bill 1969 was health affairs from the general local authority published by the Minister for Health, Sean Flanagan, sphere had been foreshadowed as far back as T.D. 1947, when the Department of Health was separated from the Department of Local The Bill was introduced in January 1969 and had the Government and established as a separate distinction of being moved at the special commemo­ ministry. rative session of the 50th Anniversary of the First Dai I, in the Mansion House, Dublin. The course of the Bill The Health Act 1970 provided that the Minister for was interrupted by the 1969 General Election. After Health would, by regulations, establish the number, the election, the Bill was re-activated by special reso­ title and functional area of each Health Board. The lution of the Dai I and, when the Bill became law in regulations came into effect on 1st October, 1970. February 1970, Erskine Childers, T.D. was Minister for However, while the Boards were legally established Health. then, they did not become responsible for the operation of the health services until 1st April, 1971. The decision to remove the responsibility for admin­ istering health services from the County Councils was not taken lightly and was based mainly on the following considerations:

10 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

Eight Boards were established, under the Health Boards Regulations 1970 as follows:

Eastern Health Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow 1,800 987,000 35 Board Midland Health Laois, Longford, Offaly 2,250 1 79,000 30 Board and Westmeath Mid-Western Clare, Limerick andTipperary 3,040 269,000 28 Health Board (North Riding) North Eastern Cavan, Louth, Meath 1,950 245,000 30 Health Board and Monaghan North Western Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo 2,600 187,000 27 Health Board South Eastern Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary 3,630 328,000 31 Health Board (South Riding), Waterford and Wexford Southern Cork and Kerry 4,700 465,000 33 Health Board Western Galway, Mayo and Roscommon 5,020 311,000 29 Health Board

11 1 - Establishment of the South Eastern Health Board

The Health Act provided for the appointment of a their specialist areas, including the strategic develop­ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in each Board. Under ment of services and financial issues. They had an the Act, issues relating to eligibility of individuals for influential role on all work carried out throughout the services and personnel matters were reserved to the organisation. CEO. Outside of these, the CEO was obliged to act in accordance with the decisions and directions of the Board. However, the Board recognised the need to delegate the day-to-day management of the First SEHB Management Team Appointments: services to the CEO, while retaining ultimate control themselves. The process of appointing the CEO was CEO done by the Local Appointments Commission and Peter McQuillan Peter McQuillan was appointed the first CEO in the Oct. 1970 South East, taking up duty in October 1970. The McKinsey Report recommended that the work of the Programme Managers: Board be divided into three broad areas, each under General Hospitals Special Hospitals Community Care a Programme Manager, as follows: George Bourke Patrick Ward Dr. Val Barry Sept. 1971 May 1972 August 1971 • Community Care Services • General Hospital Services Functional Officers: • Special Hospital Services (long-stay hospitals) Finance Personnel Technical Services Finian Mongey John Quinn Joe Casey In addition, the report recommended the appoint­ April 1971 January 1972 July 1977 ment of functional officers in charge of Finance, Personnel and Planning and Evaluation. In the South Initially, George Bourke carried responsibility for East, it was decided that the post of Finance Officer both hospital programmes. should carry the duties of Planning and Evaluation Officer. This group of officers, under the leadership Finian Mongey resigned in August 1971 and was of the CEO, formed the Management Team for the succeeded by Vincent Millett, who took up duty in Health Board. The Board members also carried out April 1972. The post of Technical Services Officer their functions on a programme basis, with the Board was not provided for in the original Management divided into three sub-committees, on the lines Team proposals and, while the post was approved by above. These committees dealt with all aspects of the Board in 1973, it was not filled by the Local

12 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

Appointments Commission until 1977. In subsequent local authorities to carry out certain services on an years, as the scope and range of services developed, interim basis in Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford and South the Management Team was further expanded. Tipperary.

In the mid-1980s, the Management Services Two appointments to headquarters staff on 1st April, Department, (previously known as the Data 1971 are worthy of mention: John Cooney, a Staff Processing Section), was established as a separate Officer (Grade V) transferred from Ardkeen Hospital, entity outside Finance. The Management Services Waterford, and Stephen Burke, a new Staff Officer Officer, Sean Comerford, joined the Board's who was originally recruited by the Waterford Health Management Team. Authority. Both were to have very successful careers in the health services. John spent the remainder of In the 1990s, two further appointments were made to his working life in the South East and succeeded Peter the Management Team. A new Department of Public McQuillan as CEO, in 1992. Stephen left the South Health was established in 1995 and Dr. Orlaith East and worked with the Mid-Western and Western O'Reilly was appointed Director of Public Health. In Health Boards and was appointed CEO with the Mid- 1997, the post of Communications Manager was Western Health Board, in 1997. Both are natives of established and Audrey Lambourn took up duty, in Clonmel. September 1997. The membership of the Board was specified in the Mr. McQuillan, as CEO, was faced with the daunting Health Board Regulations 1970. It had 31 members task on 1st April 1971 of taking over responsibility for made up of 16 public representatives from local the administration of the health services in the South authorities in the area, eight elected by the medical East region. It took over a year for the full profession, two from the nursing profession (General Management Team to be finalised. The Board did not and Psychiatric Nursing), one each from the dental have headquarters accommodation immediately and and pharmaceutical professions and three nominees initially used rooms in Kilcreene Hospital, Kilkenny. of the Minister for Health.

On the 1st April, 1971, the Waterford Health The first official meeting of the Board was fixed by the Authority, theTipperary Mental Health Board and the Minister for Health to take place on Thursday, 26th Carlow/Kildare Mental Health Board were dissolved November 1970, in the Lecture Theatre, St. Brendan's and their functions and staff were transferred to the Hospital, Dublin. Prior to the first meeting, the SEHB. Agency arrangements were made with the Minister addressed the members at a luncheon in the

13 1 - Establishment of the South Eastern Health Board

Metropole Hotel, Dublin. Also present were Wexford, with the CEO, Peter McQuillan in the members of the Eastern, Midland and North Eastern Chair. Health Boards and the Chairmen and Managers of the respective local authorities. Tom Hassett, a Pharmacist from Wexford, was elected Chairman receiving 24 votes, while his opponent When the SEHB met in St. Brendan's Hospital, Thomas Byrne, also from Wexford, received 7 votes. Dublin, all members were present with the exception Mr. Byrne was defeated in election for Vice-Chairman of Deputy Kieran Crotty, whose father, Mr. P.J. Crotty, by Charles Curran of Clashmore, Co. Waterford by 21 had died earlier that day. The CEO, Peter McQuillan, votes to 10. was in the chair at the start of the meeting. The main items on the agenda were the election of a Chairman The decision on the location of the Board's adminis­ and Vice-Chairman, the location of the Board's head­ trative headquarters provoked a long and divisive quarters and the time and frequency of meetings. No debate before Kilkenny was selected in favour of business, however, was transacted as the meeting was Waterford by the narrowest of margins - 16 votes to adjourned as a mark of respect to the late P.J. Crotty 15 as follows: on the proposal of M.J. (Mick) McGuinness. Kilkenny: Deputy K. Crotty, Deputy S. Pattison, Aid. However, the fixing of a new date for the meeting M. McGuinness, Dr. P.J. Faul, Dr. D. Hayes, Sister caused problems. Practically every day between Stanislaus, J. Fahy, Deputy D. Governey, Dr. M. then and Christmas was suggested, but no agreement Kehoe, Deputy T. Nolan, Mr. J. Bowe, Deputy S. could be reached and, for a time, it appeared that it Browne, Mr. T. Byrne, Dr. C. O'Doherty, Mrs. E. would be well into the New Year before a suitable Scallon, Mr. J. Murphy -16 votes. date would be found. But the CEO did not want the matter to drag on indefinitely and pressed the Waterford: Mr. T. Brennan, Mr. J. Cummins, Mr. C. members to make a decision stating: "The Minister Curran, Mr. R. Gallagher, Dr. M. Maughan, Dr. H. just picked a day at random today and you could all O'Brien-Moran, Mr. J. Quirke, Mr. R. Torrie, Miss E. turn up". Walsh, Mr. C. Donovan, Dr. P. Meehan, Mr. P. Quigley, Deputy S. Treacy, Mr. G. McLean-Lee and Eventually, after a long discussion, the next meeting Mr. T. Hassett - 15 votes. was fixed for Thursday, 3rd December, 1970, and Wexford was chosen as a "neutral venue". There was It was also decided that future meetings would be a full attendance of all members in the County Hall, held on the second Thursday of each month, in the

14 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

afternoon (by 16 votes to 15) and that until April, the Ireland as Bankers to the Board by 15 votes to 11. meetings would circulate between the various The meeting agreed that the Board should accede to centres. After April, all meetings would be held in the request of the Minister for Health to allow the rep­ Kilkenny. resentative of the administrative and clerical staff express their views on the location of the Board head­ The decision to select Kilkenny as the headquarters of quarters. This led to some stormy and heated the Board was warmly welcomed by "the Kilkenny exchanges. People" in its editorial, on 11th December, 1970: The meeting was addressed by Phil Flynn, Assistant "The members of the regional health board who General Secretary of the Irish Local Government voted for the location of the headquarters of their Officials Union. Mr. Flynn said that when headquar­ organisation in Kilkenny have restored the self confi­ ters were being considered by the Union, they had dence of many anxious communities in the south east held a ballot among their members and a big majority and they have helped also to reassure those who are was in favour of Waterford. Kilkenny as the site was determined to fight for the survival and for the future causing tremendous difficulties with regard to staff. prosperity of the region as a whole and not just of one, single area situated on the seaboard". Tom Brennan said that there would be serious impli­ cations, unless the decision of the last meeting was Coincidentally, other front page news on the reversed. Deputy Des Governey thought it would be Kilkenny'People the same week was the proposed ridiculous if the Board made a decision at one closure by the Royal Insurance Company of their meeting and went about rescinding it at the next offices in Patrick Street, Kilkenny. Some months later, meeting. the vacant building was leased by the Health Board v as its first headquarters. It was renamejd Arus Slainte. As the discussion concluded, Mr. Brennan said he was submitting for the February meeting of the Board The next meeting of the Board was held in the City a notice of motion to have the headquarters decision Hall, Waterford on 14th January, 1971 at which the reversed. The situation took a different turn prior to Board considered a report from the CEO on the February meeting, which was to be held in Management arrangements. The Board approved the Carlow. creation of three posts of Programme Manager, one post of Finance Officer and one post of Personnel Deputy Sean Treacy of South Tipperary submitted a Officer. The Board also agreed to appoint the Bank of second motion proposing "that the entire sections of 1 - Establishment of the South Eastern Health Board

the Board's services under the functional officers for located in Kilkenny City. Cllr. Mick McGuinness Finance and Personnel be located in Waterford". proposed that the meeting be adjourned and I recall that it was quite an achievement to have that The Carlow meeting on 11th February had all the proposal adopted by the meeting. Kilkenny's bid for ingredients of becoming a stormy affair and it was the headquarters would not have been successful if building up to this, as both motions were proposed the vote had been taken that day. However, and opposed. following further extensive lobbying, the decision to locate in Kilkenny was made". Following another lengthy debate, Mr. Brennan withdrew his motion for the complete rescinding of Once the headquarters issue was settled, the main the Board's initial decision in favour of the compro­ problem facing the Board was planning for the mise motion from Deputy Sean Treacy of Clonmel. takeover of the various services being provided by the local authorities and the development of its own Peter McQuillan pointed out that the terms of the Personnel, Finance and General Management motion, if accepted, would be too restrictive on the functions. Board for the management of its affairs. However, Mr. McQuillan said he accepted the general principle rnismmtm.\ of the proposition, which was to ensure that special consideration be given to the present health staff in Waterford. He agreed to deal with any staff problems sympathetically and said that a proposition would be made to retain the two existing health offices in Waterford, one in the city and one in Dungarvan, which would minimise the disruption for Waterford staff. On receiving Mr. McQuillan's assurances, Mr. Treacy agreed to withdraw his motion.

Deputy Kieran Crotty, a member of the Health Board from 1970 to 1989, recalls the selection of Kilkenny as the Board's headquarters: "It was a large organi­ Board meeting 1978, chaired by Mr. James Murphy. Also sation and I remember that it was quite a coup to included J. Furey, J. Cooney, P. McQuillan, Jo Redmond, have the South Eastern Health Board headquarters y Millet, P. Ward. (Photo: © Fom Brett). 16 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

Prior to the 1 st April, 1971, the CEO set up temporary offices at Kilcreene Hospital, Kilkenny and Josephine The impact of the legislation was gradual and it was Go) Redmond was seconded to the Board, from the not until 1987, that a new system of promotion on Waterford Health Authority to provide secretarial merit was introduced to comply with the law. The assistance to the CEO. In May 1971, an agreement new system increased every Nurse's opportunity for was reached with the Royal Insurance Group for the promotion at a younger age and the change brought lease of their office buildfng at Patrick Street, the Psychiatric Nursing service into line with the rest Kilkenny and the Board's staff moved into the new of the Nursing profession. offices on 3rd August, 1971. After the first full year of administration of services by During its first year in existence, the Board was con­ the Board, many of the organisational and communi­ fronted with a major strike in the five psychiatric cation problems had been overcome. Gradually the hospitals in the South East. The strike took place in services provided for the Board by local authorities November 1971 and was the first major national were taken over and the Board itself, in a very short strike in psychiatric hospitals since 1919. time, got a very good grasp of its role and an under­ Coincidentally, the cause of the strike had its origins standing of the services and problems associated with in part of the settlement terms of the 1919 strike, them. The programme committees helped greatly in which provided for promotion in the Psychiatric ensuring proper consideration of problems so that, in Nursing service to be by seniority of service. a comparatively short time, a new and relatively complex organisation had established itself. The strike lasted 11 days, but the settlement terms brought about no change in the promotion system. All serving personnel in temporary or acting positions due to the promotions dispute were appointed on a permanent basis. Further discussions failed to bring about any change and the matter was not finally resolved until the introduction of the Employment Equality Act 1977, which provided for "equal treatment between men and women and between single and married persons in access to employment, training and working conditions". The Act prohibited discrimination in respect of promotion.

17

THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD CHAPTER II - Development of General Hospitals in the South East

CHARLIES ANCiXS^

' L0ST \ Ltmrn l" THE VOOtegXU1

i <*• .1®. Nurses from St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny pictured in the mid 1970s marching from the hospital to the then SEHB Headquarters in Patrick Street, Kilkenny.

Early in 1973, the Minister for Health announced that report on a Development Programme for General he would be deciding on the national structure for Hospitals in the South East to the Board. The report General Hospitals, after consultation with the Health was discussed at a special Board meeting in June Boards, the Regional Hospital Boards and Comhairle 1973. The Board made certain amendments to the na nOspideal. Regional Hospital Boards had report and authorised the Management Team to enter functions in relation to the general organisation and into formal discussion with the Health Committees in development of hospital services while Comhairle each of the counties, with Medical and Nursing staffs dealt with Consultant appointments and advised on and with voluntary hospital authorities in the area. the organisation and operation of hospital services. The Board also authorised the circulation of the report to members of Comhairle na nOspideal and In May 1973, the Management Team presented a the Dublin Regional Hospital Board.

19 2 - Development of General Hospitals in the South East

Mary Donovan Ten special meetings were held for the discussion of the proposals. Five of these were with the County Health Committees and the remainder were with the Consultant staff of the Board's hospitals, the Chief Psychiatrists of the Board's Psychiatric Hospitals, the County Medical Officers in the area and the Matrons of all the General Hospitals. A native of Co. Tipperary, Mary Donovan spent her early nursing career in England.

In addition, special meetings were held with the She qualified in General Nursing at St. Joseph's Hospital, authorities representing the County and City Edinburgh and worked in the Preston Royal Infirmary. Infirmary, Waterford; the Medical Missionaries of Mary, who managed Airmount Hospital in Waterford In 1956, she took up the post of Night Sister in the Wrightington Hospital, Wigan and then worked in the New and the Sisters of St. John of God, who operated Ely Hall Hospital, Southport, before undertaking her Psychiatric House in Wexford, Aut Even Hospital in Kilkenny and Nurse Training at Stanley Royal Hospital, Wakefield. She sub­ Maypark in Waterford. sequently worked as Deputy/Assistant Matron in Rawcliffe Hall Hospital, Coole, Yorkshire and Claybury Hospital, Woodford Green, Essex. The proposals, as amended, were endorsed by all of the Health Committees and by the Board's Medical She also worked in the Whittington Hospital, London before returning to Ireland in 1965 to become Deputy Matron, in St. and Nursing staffs. The South Tipperary Local Luke's Hospital, Clonmel. In January 1972, Mary was Committee, while endorsing the proposals, was appointed Matron of Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital, about evenly divided on the question of whether a Kilcreene, a post she served in with distinction until her retire­ ment in 1995. sector hospital should be located in Cashel or in Clonmel. The report set out in detail the position on An avid gardener, Mary now lives in Clonmel and takes a General Hospital services, in the South East in 1973. special interest in the care of the elderly especially those living The major hospitals operated by the Board were: in the community.

• Ardkeen Hospital, Waterford • St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel • Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel • County Surgical Hospital, Wexford • County Medical Hospital, Brownswood,

20 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

Enniscorthy recommendations adopted by the Board were: • St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny • Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital, Kilcreene, 1. That 1,200 beds for acute general care be Kilkenny. accepted as the needs of the South East.

An historical profile of the Acute Hospitals is 2. The concept of a single large General Hospital provided at the end of this chapter. with sectors of activity in different towns was feasible and acceptable. In addition, the Board had 11 District Hospitals and one Fever Hospital, which were part of the General 3. That Waterford city hospital services be developed Hospitals programme. By the standards accepted as the core and services in Kilkenny, Wexford and within Ireland at Department of Health level for Clonmel be developed as the sectors. general hospitals, all were inadequately staffed, both in terms of Consultants and Non-Consultant Medical Staff.

The supporting specialties of Radiology, Pathology and Anaesthetics were also significantly under- provided. The Fitzgerald Report (1968) on General Hospital organisation recommended that a 300-bed General Hospital should have two Radiologists, two Pathologists and three Anaesthetists. The whole of the South Eastern Region had, at that time, one Pathologist, one Radiologist and a number of part- time Anaesthetists. With the exception of the spe­ cialised Orthopaedic hospital at Kilcreene, which was 14 years old, all the other hospital buildings Opening of the Casualty Unit, St. Luke's General Hospital, varied from 25 to 140 years old. Kilkenny, 1978: Helen Happe, Bridget Kelly, Catherine Fleming, Linda Donohoe and Patricia Doheny. In both South Tipperary and Wexford, the strength of the hospital service was undermined by the In December 1973, representatives of Comhairle na separation of the surgical and medical units. The nOspideal and the Dublin Regional Hospital Board

21 2 - Development of General Hospitals in the South East

met with Board members and management staff, at Sr. Michael Joseph (Nolan) the request of the Minister for Health, to discuss the re-organisation of General Hospital services in the South East region. Prior to the meeting, members from Comhairle and the Regional Hospital Board visited each of the main hospitals in the area and met with senior hospital staff. Jane Nolan was born to Patrick and Kate Nolan on 27th July, 1919, in Carr, near Rhode, Co. Offaly. The Board's policy document which had been approved at its meeting in June 1973 met all the After training in shorthand and typewriting (secretarial courses), she began work as a cashier and bookkeeper in an Edenderry based requirements of national guidelines on General company, where she stayed from August 1938 to January 1942. Hospital development and following the December She completed her nursing training in Wexford County Hospital and meeting with Comhairle and the Regional Hospital in the Mercy Hospital, Cork and was conferred with the R.G.N., by An Board, the Board advised the Minister for Health of its Bord Altranais, in 1949.

proposals. A five year stint as a Staff Nurse in Ely Nursing Home, Wexford was followed by a four year term in Kildare County Hospital. Sr. Michael Joseph qualified as a Midwife in 1960 and also worked for a short 'There was, however, one issue causing concern. The while in St. John's Hospital, Enniscorthy, and Aut Even Hospital, location of the hospital for South Tipperary was Kilkenny. unclear as there was disagreement between St. Sr. Michael Joseph spent the 1960s in Eastern Nigeria. Following her return to Ireland, she was appointed to the permanent post of Matron Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel and Our Lady's Hospital, at Wexford General Hospital on 1st June 1972. With the transfer of Cashel. Opinion in South Tipperary as represented the Medical patients from Brownswood, the hospital capacity had reached 207 beds by August 1978 making her role more demanding by the local Health Advisory Committee was about and increasing her level of responsibility. evenly divided as between the two possible sites, A member of the St. John of God Order, Sr. Michael Joseph is remem­ while the Board had indicated its preference for the bered for her pleasant disposition and desire to have everybody made Clonmel location. as comfortable as possible while in hospital.

One of the referees she gave when applying for the Matron' post was In Wexford, there was general agreement that the "Miss Rule from the Royal College of Nursing, Cavendish Square, London". There was no "misrule" during Sr. Michael Joseph's reign as Medical services should be centralised in Wexford Matron! Town, when the opportunity arose. She retired oh 27th July, 1984 - the last Sister to hold the post at Wexford General Hospital - and died on 26th November, 1994. A Consultative Body was appointed by the Minister for Health, in 1973, to advise on General Hospital

22 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

development. The General Hospital Development Plan was published by the Minister for Health, Brendan Corish, T.D., in October 1975.

In relation to the South Eastern region, the Consultative Body recommended that the major hospital should be at Waterford, with general hospitals in Kilkenny, Wexford and either Clonmel or Cashel. In a public statement introducing the plan, the Minister accepted the recommendation in respect of the South East area, but avoided the issue of where the hospital centre for South Tipperary should be located, stating he would: "have further studies conducted in consultation with the Health Board on Retirement presentation to Josie O'Brien, Domestic Supervisor, the choice between Cashel and Clonmel and will Wexford General Hospital, 1979: Sr. M. Domatilla; Mr. A. Lee; announce his decision". Sr. M. Joseph; J. O'Brien; P.J. Kinsella and Dr. O'Driscoll.

Almost 20 years were to elapse before a ministerial decision was made and, in the meantime, the whole In January 1977, the Department of Health wrote to issue was to become the subject of High Court pro­ the Board approving of the appointment of a project ceedings, heated debate at meetings of the SEHB and, team to prepare a planning brief for the development on one occasion, resulted in a major blockade of the of Ardkeen Hospital, Waterford. main Dublin to Cork road and other roads in and out of Cashel. Following the Minister's approval, the project team commenced work in April 1977 on the preparation of The confirmation of the Board's proposals to site the a planning brief in the context of the total develop­ major hospital in Waterford with sector hospitals in ment of a 580 bed hospital on the Ardkeen site, the other areas was welcomed, but the CEO providing regional services in Paediatrics, Child cautioned against undue optimism stating "while the Psychiatry, ENT, Ophthalmology, Pathology and clearing of the locations is a very important step, the Orthopaedics. The planning brief was approved by planning of the hospitals will probably take many the Minister for Health and handed over to the design years to develop". team in August 1978.

23 2 - Development of General Hospitals in the South East

Detailed planning of the phased development of the hospital then commenced but, due to delays in approvals occasioned by excessive demands on the national capital budget, the project did not proceed as quickly as planned. Approval to seek tenders was received in 1984, for a revised scheme of 424 beds, but two more years elapsed before approval was given to proceed with the project.

The eventual breakthrough came when An Taoiseach, Garrett Fitzgerald, T.D. visited the hospital on 15th September 1986 and stated that sanction would issue to start the project before the end of December 1986. The formal signing of the main contract took place on

5th January 1987 and the contractor entered the site The Minister for Health, Mr. Charles Haughey TD, cuts the tape on 26th January 1987. It had taken ten years to get to officially open the new Casualty Department at St. Luke's the project to construction stage. The overall Hospital, Kilkenny, in November 1978. Also included in the adjusted contract price was £35.8m. Work photo are James Murphy, Chairman, SEHB; Micheal Ferris; Luke proceeded satisfactorily during 1987, 1988 and 1989 Boyle, Mayor of Kilkenny; Most Rev. Dr. Peter Birch; Bishop of with the completion of the new Pathology Laboratory, Ossory, Sr. M. Pius, Matron and Rev. Dean Brian Harvey. Surgical and Paediatric wards, new kitchen, staff (Photo: © Tom Brett) dining hall, stores, Pharmacy, Laundry and Mortuary car park. In 1978, the Minister for Health, Charles J. Haughey; T.D. approved the establishment of project teams to In 1993, the new Accident & Emergency, Out-Patient prepare planning briefs for the development of St. Department, Radiology, Central Admissions, Main Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny, and the County Concourse, Assessment Unit for the Elderly and Hospital, Wexford. In South Tipperary, there was no Administrative area were opened. By the end of consensus on the location of General' Hospital 1995, all existing services in outlying units were services, on a single site in the county. located in the new hospital including a new 45-bed Department of Psychiatry. The development control plans for both the Kilkenny

24 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

and Wexford Hospitals were approved by the Board workhouse building, was of concern both to the staff in October 1979 and, when the plans were submitted of the hospital and the Board itself. In November to the Minister, approval was also requested to 1982, a development on the new hospital site com­ proceed with the detailed planning of the entire prising two theatres, two ward blocks, limited x-ray hospitals. and casualty facilities was approved by the Department of Health and the design team was com­ The plans were approved by the Minister in missioned to complete the final planning stages. December 1980 but very little progress was made on any other planning work except that, in Kilkenny, Tender documentation was submitted to the funds were made available to purchase lands Department of Health on 16th October 1984 but, in adjoining the hospital. a report to the Board in February 1986, the CEO stated: "To date there is no approval to allowing the The seriousness of the situation in Wexford, where Board to invite tenders for the project. This hold-up the surgical department was housed in the old for a period of 15 months for a building project of the order of £4.7m to replace the antiquated surgical facilities at Wexford General Hospital is impossible to understand".

Following a visit to the hospital on 16th September 1986 by the Minister for Health, Barry Desmond, T.D., approval was received to invite tenders. Construction work commenced on the First Phase of the development in February 1988 and work was completed in 1992.

The first part of the hospital development was opened Pictured at the signing of the contract for the building of on 10th December, 1991 when the old 14-bed St. Wexford Ceneral Hospital in February 1988, seated: Brigid's Medical Ward was transferred to a 15-bed A. Sherwood (Matron); ). Cooney; P. McQuillan; Cllr. ). Crowe ward on the new site. The new Central Sterile (Chairman); R. Howlin; M. Wallace; B. Kavanagh. Standing: Supplies Department opened on 30th December, F. Jackman; D. Fitzgerald; S. O'Doherty; J. Redmond; P. Ward; 1991 and the remainder of the new facilities opened P. Kavanagh; B. O'Connell; P.). Kinsella; P. O'Donohoe; in 1992. The official opening of the hospital on 13th B. O'Reilly; P. Ryan; /. Rooney; T. Byrne.

25 2 - Development of General Hospitals in the South East

November, 1992 by An Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, Minister for Health, Barry Desmond, T.D., on the 11th T.D., was an occasion of great satisfaction for all November 1983, no approval was forthcoming to involved in the development over the years. proceed with the planning.

Since the approval of the development control plan At a meeting of the Kilkenny Local Health for St. Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny in Committee, Consultant Surgeon Mr. John F. O'Grady December 1980, progress on the project was most described the situation in St. Luke's General Hospital disappointing. In 1981, tenders for an extension on as "appalling" with beds continuously in the the Maternity/Gynaecology floor were sent to the corridors stating "the hospital now has the unenvi­ Department but approval was not received until 28th able distinction of having the worst overcrowding of September, 1982. Work commenced on the 8th any health institution in the country". November 1982. This development provided an additional 14 beds, together with ancillary accom­ Mr. O'Grady castigated the SEHB and the modation for the Obstetrics/Gynaecology practice. Department of Health for their "continued inactivity". He said he was expressing the anger and frustration of Nurses and Medical staff who had watched plans and promises for the hospital "receding slowly into the shadow of a celtic twilight".

During 1990, all of the planning procedures were completed but expectations that work would commence before the end of the year were dispelled when the Board was informed that funds were not available to allow the project commence. This was a great disappointment to the Board and to the hospital staff as the problems of overcrowding were intensify­ ing and expectations had been generated that a start Staff from the Physiotherapy Department, Waterford Regional would have been made in 1990. Hospital, in their new facilities, December 1998.

Progress on the overall planning of the hospital did A deputation from the Board, led by the Chairman, not proceed as anticipated. Despite repeated requests Cllr. Michael O'Brien, travelled to Dublin on 6th to the Department and a visit to the hospital by the November 1991 for a meeting with An Taoiseach,

26 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

Charles J. Haughey, T.D. to discuss the project. Mr. G.A. McLean-Lee

Due to Parliamentary business, the Taoiseach was unable to meet the deputation but the Minister for Health, Dr. Rory O'Hanlon, T.D., met them and confirmed that the project would proceed immedi­ ately. Angus Lee was born in Dublin in 1918 and qualified in Medicine in 1942. The construction of the new Theatres, Delivery Suites He worked for a period in the Adelaide Hospital, Dublin and Children's ward was completed during 1993 and before going to England where he initially worked in General Practice in Essex and Gloucestershire. During the years 1944 all the areas were commissioned in 1994. Since to 1946 he served in the Royal Navy, as a Lieutenant Surgeon. then, a new Radiology^nit with CAT scan, a new Coronary Care Unit and Department of Psychiatry On his return to civilian life, he concentrated on a career in surgery, working in a number of hospitals in England including have been opened. Push Green Hospital, Romford, the Royal Infirmary, Leicester and St. Peter's Hospital for Genito-Urinary Diseases, London. While major progress was made in the development He also worked as a Senior Surgical Registrar in the of General Hospital services in Waterford, Kilkenny Hillingdon Hospital, Middlesex from 1953 to 1957. and Wexford, South Tipperary did not benefit from Mr. Lee returned to Ireland in 1957 on his appointment as any substantial investment of capital monies, County Surgeon in Wexford County Hospital, where he con­ primarily due to the lack of a decision on where the tributed greatly to the development of Surgical services despite the difficult conditions prevailing at that time. hospital should be located.

He was a member of the SEHB from 1970 to 1977 and he also served on Comhairle na nOspideal. He worked tirelessly for Following the publication by the Minister for Health the provision of new hospital facilities in Wexford during his in October 1975 of the General Hospital membership of both. Development Plan, the SEHB, at its meeting in Angus Lee retired in December 1983 but continued to do December 1975, established a special committee to some locum work following his retirement. He died in Wexford General Hospital in February 1996, having seen his report on the General Hospital situation in South wish of new hospital facilities at last realised. Tipperary.

The committee recommended that General Hospital services should be developed in Cashel, and that St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel, should be developed as

27 2 - Development of General Hospitals in the South East

a Community Hospital. At a meeting of the Health Mai Lanigan Board in September 1976 the report of the committee was overwhelmingly accepted by 21 votes to five. However, no decision on the matter was forthcoming from the Department of Health. The cut-backs in public expenditure in the 1980s resulted in the South Tipperary hospital issue receiving little attention. Mai Lanigan, a native of Cluen, Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny, retired as Matron of Waterford Regional Hospital on 3rd November, The issue came before the July 1988 meeting of the 1997. Health Board and the members confirmed, by 14 votes to 12, that the Acute Hospital services should She pursued her early Nursing career in England and completed her general training in tne 1950s in the Chelmsford be developed in Cashel. and Essex Hospital Group. She continued working at Staff Nurse and Ward Sister level within the Group before advancing to Senior Nurse Management. In February 1989, the Minister for Health informed the Health Board that he had noted the decision of In 1977, Ms. Lanigan decided to return to her native Kilkenny when she was appointed as Assistant Matron at St. Lukes the Board to locate General Hospital services in General Hospital, Kilkenny. Cashel but added: "Having regard to the overall pri­ In 1983 she was appointed Matron at Waterford Regional orities for the development of services, within the Hospital and, during her time in Waterford, major changes South Eastern Health Board area, there is no took place in the hospital and in the delivery of Nursing prospect, in the foreseeable future, of making the services. necessary funds available to the Board to enable it to She played a significant role in the development of the state of implement its decision". the art Regional Hospital and saw the Student Nurse training programme change from the traditional model to diploma status. She played a major part in setting up Post Graduate The Minister's refusal to approve of Cashel as the Training Courses for Nurses in Waterford Institute of Technology in conjunction with the University of Ulster. location for the General Hospital in South Tipperary infuriated the Cashel Hospital Action Committee. On Her loyalty, dedication and commitment which went far 7th March 1989, the Committee organised a major beyond the call of duty were hallmarks of her Nursing career, as well as her calmness and her ability to listen. blockade on all of the approach roads into Cashel to show their displeasure. The protest did not result in any re-think by the Minister, but members of the action committee were subsequently prosecuted for a number of traffic offences and the District Justice

28 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

hearing the case described the blockade as "grossly Tipperary and requested that the Board should again irresponsible". consider the matter.

Within weeks of the protest, the hospital issue surfaced again at the April 1989 meeting of the Health Board. Eleven hospital Consultants in South Tipperary forwarded a proposal to the Board setting out their views on the future of acute hospital services in the county and repeated their concerns on the dangers of the existing divided service.

The Consultants proposed that an Acute General Hospital be established on one site in Clonmel and outlined a new and significant role for Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel. The Cashel hospital would become the focus of the new developments in Community Retirement presentation to Fran Sheehan, St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel in July 1994, front row: Dr. S. Kingston; C. Schofield; Care, Rehabilitation and Assessment services for the F. Sheehan; T. Sheehan. Back row: R. Quinn; E. Fahy; E. Barry; elderly and would also include the development of a M. Fennessy; Fr. W. Meehan and Dr. R O'Regan. Hospice Unit for the terminally ill. The Outpatient Clinic services in Cashel would be expanded. At the Board meeting in^July 1993, Jack Crowe The members deferred any decision on the proposals proposed that any decision on the South Tipperary pending a detailed costing. When the matter came Hospital Services should be deferred, until such time before the June 1989 meeting of the Board, it was as the financing of the proposal was approved by the decided that "as the Board has already recommend­ Minister for Health, but his proposal was defeated by ed Cashel as the site for acute services, further dis­ 13 votes to 10. The Board then proceeded to approve cussion on this issue is not warranted unless the of the proposals submitted in 1989 by the Medical Department of Health raise the issue". Consultants that Clonmel be the Acute Hospital centre for South Tipperary, with 15 voting for and In October 1992, the General Hospitals Committee seven against. The approval of the Minister for Health once more expressed concern at the lack of any was then sought. progress on the future of hospital services in South

29 2 - Development of General Hospitals in the South East

In January 1994, the Board was informed that the Sr. Annunciata Hennessy Minister, Brendan Howlin, T.D., had set up an advisory group within the Department of Health to report to him on hospital services in South Tipperary. With the end of another year approaching and no word from the Department of Health, the General Hospitals Committee, at their meeting in December 1994, recommended that, in view of the serious Sr. Annunciata, a native of Coleman, Fethard, Co. Tipperary, concerns being expressed by Hospital Consultants in was Matron in St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel from 1954 until her retirement in 1991. South Tipperary, the Board send a deputation to the Minister. She trained as a General Nurse in the Mercy Hospital, Cork and subsequently completed her Midwifery training in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. Prior to her appoint­ The deputation, accompanied by the CEO, John ment as Matron, Sr. Annunciata worked as a Staff Nurse in St. Joseph's Hospital from March 1951. Cooney, met the new Minister for Health, Michael Noonan, T.D. on 17th January 1995. When the As Matron, she played a major role in improving conditions for both patients and staff and actively promoted further Chairman and CEO made their views known to the education and training of Nursing staff. Following retirement, Minister, Mr. Noonan told them that he was now she reverted to her own name and was known as Sr. Mary Hennessy. She continued to play an active role in the health ready to announce his decision. services, working in the Cappoquin Day Care Centre for the Elderly for many years putting all her Nursing expertise and The Minister announced that Acute Hospital services compassionate caring for others to good use. for South Tipperary would be located in St. Joseph's Sr. Mary Hennessy died in 2003. Hospital, Clonmel, and £12.5m would be invested in the health services in South Tipperary. Mr. Noonan maintained that the people of South Tipperary were not well served by having services split between two sites.

In a press interview, the Minister confirmed that a review of the hospital services in South Tipperary, which had been initiated by his predecessor, Brendan Howlin, had come down strongly in favour of Clonmel as the location for the sector hospital. Asked

30 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

how long the transfer would take, Mr. Noonan stated Dr. Tom Prendiville that everything would be in place within a three year period. The news was greeted enthusiastically in Clonmel, but there was outrage in Cashel, with "The Tipperary Star" referring to the Minister's decision as "Cashel's Death Knell".

Dr. Tom Prendiville was born in Castleisland, Co. Kerry and The Minister's optimism that "everything would be in graduated in Medicine from University College Dublin in 1939. place within a three year period" did not materialise. Legal challenges by the Cashel Hospital Action He continued his studies in the Mater and the National Committee continued to delay any start on the Maternity Hospitals in Dublin and then went on to work in the County Hospitals in Tralee and Mullingar. Tom then went to package of services in the Minister's announcement. England to gain further experience working in the Alder Hey Protracted discussion between the Cashel Hospital Children's Hospital, Liverpool, and the Redhill County Hospital, Surrey. Action Committee and the Health Board during 1995 resulted in both sides reaching agreement in He took up the post of County Physician in Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel in 1946. When the Medical and Maternity November of that year. services for South Tipperary were transferred to St. Joseph s Hospital, Clonmel, in 1952, he moved to Clonmel where he remained until his retirement in 1985. The agreement stipulated that all Acute Hospital services for South Tipperary would be unified on the During his career in Clonmel he worked most of the time as a one site, at St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel. single handed consultant being on-call day and night. Services were developed even though resources were very limited with Dr. Prendiville availing of every opportunity to In Cashel, the existing main hospital building would expand and improve facilities. be upgraded to provide a Specialist Geriatric In his 40 years of dedicated service, he left a formidable Rehabilitation Unit, a GP Assessment Unit and a legacy in health care to the people of South Tipperary. Palliative Care Unit. New buildings on the site of Dr. Prendiville enjoyed his retirement - he loved golf and Our Lady's would include: a Convalescent^Unit, an rugby and he was a noted rugby player in his student days. Alzheimer Unit, Services for People with Physical Dr. Prendiville died in 2001. Disabilities and Mental Health Care Services.

A formal public signing of the agreement took place in Grant's Castle Hotel, Cashel, on 5th January 1996 between the Cashel Hospital Action Committee, 2 - Development of General Hospitals in the South East

Councillor Jack Crowe and the SEHB. Two Project Teams were established to implement the proposed developments. Jim Creagh, who was the Project Manager for Waterford Regional Hospital, was appointed to the St. Joseph's development and Eamonn Lonergan, Hospital Manager, Special Hospital Programme, South Tipperary, was appointed Project Manager for the Cashel development.

The planning of the project was a lengthy process, due primarily to the fact that the scope of the works originally envisaged was greatly expanded. On a visit to St. Joseph's Hospital on the 8th June 2000, the Dr. Anne Moloney, Consultant Microbiologist, receives the Minister for Health and Children, Mr. Micheal Accreditation Award from Frank Smyth, Head of the National Accreditation Board, with the Laboratory staff at Waterford Martin, T.D. gave his approval to the acceptance of a Regional Hospital, 1998. tender from John Sisk & Son Ltd. in the sum of £15.7m. for the First Phase of the development. provision of Acute Hospital services over the past Work commenced on 9th October, 2000 and the three decades which includes CT Scanners, MRI, completed works were handed over, in early 2003. Oncology, Neonatal, and Rheumatology services. However, the commissioning and staffing of the new Over the 30 years, there were also major service services was held up, due to delays in the provision developments including Ophthalmology, Pathology, of funding to allow the transfer of surgical services Dermatology, Nephrology, Geriatric Medicine and from Cashel. Palliative Care. Among the major developments in the 1990s were in In September 2004, the Minister for Health and the delivery of Orthopaedic and Paediatric services. Children approved funding in the sum of 3.8m to enable the amalgamation of the Acute Hospital Up to the early 1990s, the Orthopaedic services in services in South Tipperary and the changeover is the South East functioned in a diverse manner with expected to take place in June 2005. It will have the service delivered on four different sites. taken over ten years to implement the change. In 1992, a major review of the service, carried out by % The SEHB has seen major developments in the a joint committee of Comhairle na nOspideal and the

32 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

Department of Health, recommended centralisation Sam Oakes of the entire Orthopaedic service at Waterford Regional Hospital.

The report of the review group was considered by the Board in 1993 and it was decided to maintain the elective Orthopaedic service at Kilcreene Hospital, Sam Oakes worked his entire career in the public services in Kilkenny with the trauma service centralised in his native Kilkenny. Waterford. He commenced as a Clerical Officer with Kilkenny County Council in April 1946 and was promoted to Staff Officer in 1954. He worked for many years in the Health Section of the The decision of the Board was implemented during Council and transferred to the Health Board in 1971. 1994 and Mr. Richard O'Connell was appointed Clinical Director. He served in this capacity until On the re-organisation of the services, Sam was appointed Hospital Administrator for Kilkenny General Hospitals. 2004.

Sam was an accomplished hurler in his day, playing on Kilkenny Minor Hurling Teams of 1945 and 1946. He also The centralisation of the trauma service resulted in a represented Leinster in the Inter-Provincial Post-Primary much needed improvement in the overall service Schools series and played Senior Hurling with Dicksboro. Sam was also a Kilkenny selector at various levels. both qualitatively and quantatively.

Sam made a major contribution to the development of health services in Kilkenny. He was held in high esteem and In November 1997, a decision was made to transfer regarded with respect by staff at all levels and, more impor­ the elective Orthopaedic service to Waterford tantly, by the general public. Regional Hospital. However, the transfer cannot He retired in January 1993. proceed until the essential infrastructure is in place and approval is awaited to proceed with the necessary buildings.

Significant progress has been made in the provision of Orthopaedic services in the South East in recent years. The service is led by six permanent Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons based at Waterford Regional Hospital with a commitment to the elective service at Kilcreene Hospital, Kilkenny.

33 2 - Development of General Hospitals in the South East

Dr. Jim Mahon The Paediatric service commenced in 1975. The Paediatric unit at Waterford Regional Hospital (then Ardkeen) opened on the 23rd September, 1975 and the first Consultant Paediatrician appointed was Dr. J.F. Cosgrove.

Outpatient services in the county towns in the region Dr. Jim Mahon qualified in medicine in 1970 and subse­ quently worked in a number of Dublin hospitals including St. commenced in 1976. However, one Consultant was James', Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Jervis Street, unable to provide services for the five counties and Mercers and the Mater Hospital. the Board employed visiting Consultants from outside In 1975 he went to the USA and pursued a Fellowship in the region, for Wexford and Carlow children. Cardiology at the University of Massachusetts following wnich he completed a Fellowship in Raediatric Cardiology at McGill University and Montreal Children's Hospital. A second Paediatrician, Dr. Ralph Counahan, took up duty in July 1978. Dr. Counahan was a.member of Dr. Mahon returned to Ireland in 1978 and worked as a Senior Registrar and Lecturer in Medicine at the Mater Hospital, the Health Board for a number of years. Sadly, he Dublin, before moving to St. Luke's General Hospital, died unexpectedly in April 1996 at a comparatively Kilkenny as temporary Consultant Physician in September young age. In 1980, the Board made a policy 1979. He was appointed permanently on the 1 st July 1980, a position he continued to nold until his untimely death on the decision that inpatient Consultant Paediatric services 2nd February 1998. should be provided in Wexford, Kilkenny and South Dr. Mahon was a member of the SEHB from 1987 to 1992 and Tipperary but many years elapsed before this decision served on the General Hospitals' Committee. He was an was implemented. A third Consultant took up duty in exceptionally committed Physician with an interest in Cardiology and made an outstanding contribution to the Waterford Regional Hospital in 1988. hospital in clinical, education, planning and hospital manage­ ment areas. Dr. Mahon was also influential at national level and served as President of the Irish Hospital Consultants The first Consultant Paediatrician took up duty in Association for two years. Wexford in 1992 and a new Paediatric Unit opened Dr. Mahon organised the teaching programme for St. Luke's in July 1992. A second Consultant was appointed to General Hospital and played an important role in the Wexford in 1996, but the service for South Tipperary education of all students coming to the hospital. In honour of his personal commitment to education, the hospital, in con­ and Kilkenny continued to be provided by the junction with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, insti­ Consultants, based in Waterford Regional Hospital. tuted an annual award for the best student in Medicine at St. Luke's General Hospital, known as the Dr. Jim Mahon Medal in Medicine.

34 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

Inpatient Paediatric services for South Tipperary and Kilkenny eventually came on stream in 1998, when The Board's District Hospitals were the major casual­ two Paediatricians were appointed to both St. ties during the severe cutbacks in health expenditure Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel and St. Luke's General in the mid-1980s. This was the most difficult period Hospital, Kilkenny. Increased demand for the service in the history of the Health Board, as the Board was resulted in the need for extra Paediatricians and addi­ forced to close District Hospitals in Bagenalstown, tional permanent appointments are scheduled to be Lismore, New Ross and Tipperary Town, the Auxiliary made in 2005. Hospital in Kilkenny and the long stay Brownswood Hospital, Enniscorthy. A sizeable voluntary hospital, When the Board was established in 1971, six acute the Waterford City and County Infirmary, was also hospitals provided 920 beds. Much of the accom­ closed at that time. modation was sub-standard and old. In 2004, the Board provided 1,300 acute beds and 109 day beds In 2004, the Board operated six District Hospitals at in modern well equipped facilities across the region. Carlow, Carrick-on-Suir, Clogheen, Castlecomer, Dungarvan and Gorey. All have been upgraded in recent years and attract a high occupancy level.

The following is a comparison of costs between 1972/73 and 2003 in the Board's General Hospitals and District Hospitals.

aass

Pictured at the Retirement Party for Nellie Rossiter, Carlow District Hospital, May 1988, seated (I to r): M. O'Rourke; P. Slattery; E. Farrell; K. O'Toole; N. Rossiter; H. Doyle; Comerford; K. Foley; E. Williamson. Standing: G. Lawlor; Byrne; K. O'Neill; M. Corcoran; A. Hoey; C. Nolan; C. Lynch, C. Spillane; I. McGrath; /. Byrne; C. Whelan; T. Hade; B Conway; E. Hade; A. Connor; N. Coss; L. McGrath; B. Corcoran and A. Horan.

35 2 - Development of General Hospitals in the South East

General Hospitals District Hospitals Hospital Revenue Hospital Revenue Expenditure Expenditure 1972/73 2003 1972/73 2003 € 000 € 000 € 000 € 000 Waterford Regional 1,138 130,784 Carlow District 41 1,648 Wexford General 686 48,880 St. Brigid's, St. Luke's, Kilkenny 608 50,572 Carrick-on-Suir 38 1,185 St. Joseph's, Clonmel St. Teresa's, Clogheen 39 998 (now South Tipperary Castlecomer District 49 1,629 General Hospital) 308 29,832 St. Vincent's, Our Lady's, Cashel 296 13,939 Dungarvan 62 1,131 Gorey District 55 1,508 Total: 3,036 274,007 Total: 284 8,099

The Ambulance Service driver and nurse had to respond to calls from the home which again resulted in long delays in respond­ Significant changes have taken place in the ing to calls. Ambulance Service since 1971. At that stage, the training of ambulance drivers consisted of four weeks In 1975, Michael O'Brien was appointed Chief First Aid at the Civil Defence School in the Phoenix Ambulance Officer and, when he resigned in 1977, Park, Dublin. Ambulances were crewed by a driver he was succeeded by Loughlin Nolan. and a nurse. In some counties, nurses were taken from the hospitals and, in other counties, the nurses In 1977, a Special Committee of the SEHB, together were on call from their homes. This resulted in delays with the Operational Unit of the Department of in responding to emergency calls as the nurse had to Health, recommended that: be collected from her home. From 12 midnight, all ambulances were on call which meant that both • Ambulances should be staffed by two trained

36 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

Major improvements were made in the quality of the vehicles in use, and the ambulance fleet was upgraded regularly. A minimum of five ambulances were replaced each year:

In 1993, the Board introduced a Cardiac Ambulance Service and'all ambulances then carried semi­ automatic defibrillators and all staff were trained in their use. In 1994, the Board introduced four mobile intensive care ambulances. The aim of this service was the safe transfer of critically ill patients from the Loughlin Nolan, Regional Ambulance Officer; Michael Delaney, General Hospitals in the SEHB area to Dublin or Cork Communications Officer, RACC; Mr. Micheal Martin T.D., Minister for Health and Children; Cllr. Cus Byrne, member of hospitals. the SEHB, pictured during a visit in 2002 to the Regional Ambulance Command and Control Centre in Wexford with Mary O'Rourke, Ambulance Controller, staffing the controls.

ambulance drivers • Ambulances should be controlled from a Regional Control Centre established at Waterford Regional Hospital • Ambulance Supervisors should be appointed to Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford.

In November 1978, the first two-person crewed ambulances with two trained ambulance men were introduced into the Wexford Ambulance Service. Celebrating the retirement of jimmy Stafford, Ambulance Two-person crewing was extended to Waterford in Service, Wexford General Hospital in 1983 are: Dick Hendrick; 1984, South Tipperary in 1987, Carlow in 1988 and Dr. G.I.C. Fletcher; Gerry Mulhall; Ben Mulhall; Loughlin Kilkenny in 1994. Nolan; Sr. Michael loseph; Jimmy Stafford; Mr. J.P.B. O'Sullivan, R.I.P.; P.J. Kinsella; Andy Carty; Dr. P.O. McKiernan.

37 2 - Development of General Hospitals in the South East

A new training programme for ambulance staff Claire Spillane commenced in 1996 and ambulance drivers became known as Emergency Medical Technicians. In recent years, Nurses who worked in the Ambulance Service were integrated into the service and were trained as Emergency Medical Technicians.

The Board's ambulance service complied with Claire Spillane spent most of her working career in Carlow National Ambulance Operational Procedures and District Hospital and had the honour of becoming President of the Irish Nurses Organisation (I.N.O.) in 2002 and was re­ Standards, and the service was well geared to meet elected unopposed for a second term, which she was serving all challenges in the provision of pre-hospital when she died in June 2003 aged 61. emergency care. Claire was the eldest of five children. Her father worked for Ambulance and transport of patient costs increased CIE so the family moved around the country to many towns significantly since the early years of the Board as the including Clonmel, Kildare, Kilkenny and Carlow. She trained at Harefield Hospital in Middlesex and also qualified in table hereunder indicates: Midwifery and, it was in that capacity, that she worked in Carlow, when the Maternity service was established in 1975. Though the closure of the Maternity service was a big blow to 1973 1983 1993 2003 her, she remained in Carlow working in the District Hospital €m €m €m €m where she had a special interest in the care of the elderly and Palliative Care.

0.213 2.570 4.333 14.355 Claire was the first Staff Nurse to be elected President of the 1.41% 1.98% 2.03% 1.93% I.N.O. - a remarkable achievement considering she was a member of one of the smallest branches in the country. (Figures in italics denote percentage of overall expenditure Claire's death took place when the biennial meeting of the for the year) International Council of Nurses was taking place in Geneva and 150 nurses representing 80 countries stood for a minute's silence to remember a very special Nurse and colleague.

38 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

A

Dr. lain Fletcher and Dr. Donie Ormonde

Dr. lain Fletcher, Consultant Radiologist, Wexford General Dr. Donie Ormonde took his appointment as Consultant Hospital, and Dr. Donie Ormonde, Consultant Radiologist, Radiologist at Waterford Regional Hospital exactly one month Waterford Regional Hospital, were, on the date of the abolition after Dr. Fletcher - on the 1 st September 1975 - and was, at that of the SEHB on the 31st December 2004, the longest serving time, the sole Radiologist in the hospital. Hospital Consultants in the region. He was elected to the SEHB in July 1977. Dr. Ormonde was also Dr. Fletcher took up duty on the 1st August 1975 and worked appointed as a member of Comhairle na nOspideal in the same single-handedly in the department for many years until the year. He was re-elected to the SEHB in 1982 and re-appointed appointment of a second Consultant Radiologist in 1996. He to Comhairle in 1982. Over the years, he has served on six worked as Head of the Radiology Department until 2001. different Boards of Comhairle.

He registered with the General Medical Council on the 19th Dr. Ormonde was the Consultants' representative on the project July 1967 and worked in a number of hospitals before taking up team for the new hospital for Waterford from 1997 to 1982. his appointment in Wexford, including: Victoria Hospital, Elected to Dail Eireann as a Fianna Fail TD in 1982, he was Kirkcaldy, Scotland; the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, Scotland; appointed Health Spokesman and continuously lobbied for a Royal Hospital Sick Children, Edinburgh, Scotland; Chalmers new hospital for Waterford. He was subsequently nominated as Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland and Addenbrookes Hospital, a Senator by An Taoiseach, in 1989. Cambridge, England Dr. Ormonde was re-elected to the SEHB in 1997 and again in He has been involved in a number of developments in Wexford 2002, and was a member of the last Board. He served as General Hospital over the years. He was a member of the Chairman of the Medical Board in WRH in 1977 and again from Project Team for the hospital's phase 1 development including 1991-2000. the new Radiology Department and was actively involved in campaigning for a CT Scan service and the appointment of a third Consultant Radiologist.

39 2 - Development of General Hospitals in the South East

Dr. Jack Gallagher Dr. John Cosgrove

Dr. Jack Gallagher came to the South East in 1969 to take up A native of Co. Mayo, Dr. John Cosgrove was the first the position of Consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologist at Consultant Paediatrician appointed to Waterford Regional Waterford Maternity Hospital, Airmount. Witn the transfer of Hospital, taking up his appointment on the 2nd July 1975. Obstetric and Gynaecology Services from Airmount to Waterford Regional Hospitann 1995, Dr. Gallagher moved to He was responsible for establishing Paediatric care in the WRH where ne worked until his retirement in April 2001. He was a key person in the transfer from Airmount and develop­ South East, where he developed Paediatric and regional Neo­ ment of Obstetric and Gynaecology services at Waterford natal Intensive Care Services. Regional Hospital. He was joined by Consultant colleagues, Dr. Ralph On Dr. Gallagher's retirement from the SEHB in 2000, John Counihan (RIP) in 1978 and by Dr. Paul MacMahon a Cooney, CEO, spoke about his energy, professional compe­ decade later and, more recently, by Dr. Norma Goggin in tence, commitment, perseverance ana spirit of service which 2000. had characterised his conduct during his time in the South East, particularly during the infancy of the In 2004, Dr. Cosgrove was formally acknowledged by the Obstetrics/Gynaecology service in Waterford Regional Hospital following its transition from Airmount. He also Royal College of Surgeons for his pioneering work in the acknowledged the role which Dr. Gallagher had played in development of the Paediatric services at Waterford Regional gaining recognition from all concerned of the need to improve Hospital as a training facility for Non-Consultant Hospital tne services organisationally and functionally in the best Doctors and for being the first Senior Lecturer in Paediatrics interests of patients. at Waterford Regional Hospital. He also held the position of Dean of the Faculty of Paediatrics, RCSI, contributing to the Prior to working in Waterford, he had been Assistant Master at continued improvement and development of services for sick the National Maternity Hospital, Holies Street, Dublin. He is children. His dedication to serving the parents and children a graduate of University College Dublin and specialised in of the South East is sincerely acknowledged. Obstetrics/Gynaecology with Professor J.S. Scott at the Professorial Unit at the United Leeds Hospitals. Dr. Cosgrove retired in 2004 and was lauded for his contri­ A member of the South Eastern Health Board almost continu­ bution to Paediatrics at a function in the Granville Hotel. The ously since 1977, Dr Gallagher saw tremendous changes in occasion was enhanced by the attendance of a large group the services in the region during his time. He became of colleagues from Waterford Regional Hospital, the SEHB Chairman of the Board for 2002 - a position he served with area and further afield. Dr. Cosgrove's contribution over his distinction. 29 years at Waterford Regional Hospital will not be forgotten.

40 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

Staff of Airmount Maternity Unit pictured on the day of the transfer of services to Waterford Regional Hospital in July 1995, back row: Mrs. Twomey; T. Roche; P. Quinn; J. Flynn; J. Waters; R. Quinn, E. Barron. Row 8: M. Madden; T. Kirwan. Row 7: E. Butler; L. Murphy; P. Carberry; A. O'Connor; Mrs. Kelly; N. Flynn; M. Barry; M. Lonergan; G. Coady. Row 6: B. Walsh; M. Mullins; Dr. A. Mulrooney; M. Jacob; A. Murphy; M. Whittle; E. Mullane; M. Comrie. E. Phelan; Mrs. Vereker. Row 5: Dr. Fitzgerald; G Clarey- Shortle; P. Maher; A. Cullen; M. Crawford; M. Lyster; M. Dunford; E. Mulcahy; N. Gahan; C. Walsh; J. Finnegan; P. Sullivan. Row 4: Dr. Benjamin; J. Davies; C. Byrne; M. Kerwick; H. Hickey; A. Raher; M. O'Dwyer; B. Brennan; M. Mulhall; A. Walsh; N. Phelan; E. Nix; K. Mahon;. Row 3: Dr. Diva; M. Corcoran; C. Kennedy; D. Power; S. Farrell; A. Crowley; A. Cooney-Lee; J. Johnson; M. Doyle; C. Hogan; V. Cosgrove; N. Daly. Row 2: A. Kinsella; Dr. MacMahon; Sr. Lenora; Dr. Counihan; J. Kennedy; Dr. Gallagher; J. Kealy (Matron); Dr. Cosgrove; O. Hearne; Dr. Reynolds; A. Ellis. Front row: M. Wynn; P. Standish; M. Walsh; C. Gibbons; S. McSwiney; B. Malone; C. Watson-Hogan; M. Kelly; C. Hayes; P. Quinlan; B. Phelan; C. Bell.

41 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD Hospital Facilities Across the Region

Due to a continuing decline in TB and major reduc­ tions in the bed numbers in Ardkeen, it was decided in 1959 to transfer the County Hospital, which was located in St. Patrick's Hospital, Waterford, to Ardkeen. The hospital came under the management of the Waterford Health Authority, on 1st July 1960 and this situation continued up to 1 st April 1971. In 1965, the first psychiatric unit in a General Hospital in the state was opened in Ardkeen. Prof. Tom Lynch, who died in January 2005, was instrumental in initi­ ating this unit. He also quickly developed rehabilita­ tion services for psychiatric patients and, within 18 months, Psychiatry was fully integrated within the Waterford Regional Hospital General Hospital. Ardkeen Chest Hospital was built as a sanatorium to combat the spread of tuberculosis in the South East In 1973 the SEHB adopted a development plan for and was officially opened on 21st July, 1952, by Dr. General Hospital services in the South East. This plan James Ryan, T.D., Minister for Health. It was built on envisaged that Ardkeen should be developed as the ^ the site of the former home of the De Bromhead major hospital in the region. In 1975 the Minister for family. Health announced a General Hospital Development Plan for the entire country and this plan accepted the The main building contractors were Murphy Brothers Health Board's proposals for Ardkeen. of Cork. The architects for the hospital were Nolan and Quinlan and the building cost £750,000.00. The A further two years elapsed before the Minister hospital, which was under the control of the approved the appointment of a project team to Waterford County Council, consisted of several prepare a planning brief for the new Waterford separate single-storey units. Administration was Regional Hospital (WRH). Because of financial based in the old Ardkeen House and the first Medical restrictions in the late 1970s and early H980s, the Superintendent was Dr. Pat Holmes, who stayed in planning of the project was a slow one. Work on the the post for five years and was succeeded by Dr. building of the new hospital commenced in January Fintan Corrigan. 1987. The architects for the hospital were Arthur Lardner & Partners, the main contractors were Mahon

42 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

and McPhillips Ltd., Kilkenny and the contract price The Regional Centre of Nurse Education, providing a was £35.8m. range of postgraduate educational opportunities including Health Care Attendant training, is located WRH is now the Regional Hospital for the South East in WRH. The first intake of students into the School providing Ophthalmology, ENT, Paediatrics and of Nurse Education in Ardkeen Hospital was in 1958, Neonatal, Haematology, Oncology and Palliative under the direction of the Principal Tutor, Kitty medicine, Rheumatology, Dermatology, Nephrology, Burgess. Ms. Burgess was succeeded in 1978 by Sr. Acute Medicine for older people, Endocrinology, Ursula Poetschki, who held the post until Ronnie Endoscopy, Cardiac Diagnostic Services, Accident & Strachan was appointed in 1988. Between 1958 and Emergency and Medical Assessment Services, 2004, 1,594 students were registered for the three- Orthopaedic Trauma, Medical, Surgical, Vascular and year general Nurse training programme. Urology, Regional Centre for the Co-ordination of Services for Symptomatic Breast Disease, Obstetrics, In 1971, the hospital provided 254 beds and Gynaecology and Acute Psychiatric services. employed 430 staff, including eight full-time Consultant Medical staff. Following the death of Dr. In recent years, new CAT scan equipment was Corrigan in July 1971, Dr. M.A. Conran acted as installed with improved diagnostic facilities. The Medical Superintendent. Mr. J. O'Reilly was County installation of an MRI scanner, in October 2002, was Surgeon, Dr. K. Hickey, County Physician and Dr. J. a major development for clinical services in the O'Connell, Radiologist. Other senior medical staff in South East and eliminated the need for people to the early 1970s included Mr. R. O'Driscoll, travel outside the region. The hospital, at present, has Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr. C.C. Corbett, ENT 474 in-patient beds, 48 day beds and a 12-bed Unit. Surgeon, Mr. P.I. Condon, Ophthalmic Surgeon and Dr. J. Shanahan, Anaesthetist. The Regional Pathology Outpatient facilities accommodate and provide a Laboratory was under the direction of Dr. K. Cuddihy large number of Acute Hospital and Primary Care and Mr. J. Cantwell was the Chief Technologist. The Services. Hospital Matron was Ms. T. Kilbride and Hugh Sweeney was the Hospital Administrator. WRH is a teaching hospital affiliated to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). In addition, At present the hospital employs almost 2,000 staff having had a long history of student nurse training, it (full-time and part-time) and total expenditure in now facilitates undergraduate Nurse training in part­ 2003 amounted to almost €131 m. nership with Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT).

43 Hospital Facilities Across the Region

Psychiatry serving the Carlow/Kilkenny area, opened in March 2003.

St. Luke's General Hospital now has 305 in-patient if f'I| • ' beds, 12 day care beds, a six bed Medical Assessment , Unit and provides General Medical, Surgical, Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Paediatric, Psychiatry, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Hepatology, Gastroenterology, Oncology, Palliative Care, Radiology and Anaesthetic services to the Carlow/Kilkenny area with a catchment population of 126,353. St. Luke's General Hospital took over acute hospital care for Co. Carlow in 1986. St. Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny St. Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny, which was Diagnostic services include Radiology, Laboratory, built between the years 1936 to 1941, replaced the Cardiac Diagnostics and Endoscopy (including Kilkenny County Infirmary, which was located in ERCP). Therapy services include Physiotherapy, John's Green. The architects for the new hospital, Speech and Language, Dietetic, Occupational which opened in December 1942, were Downes and Therapy, Social Work and Clinical Nurse Specialists. Meehan. The hospital was then under the manage­ ment of Kilkenny County Council. The first County In 1971, the hospital employed a total of 141 staff, Surgeon was Dr. W.J. Phelan who transferred from the which included 4 full-time Consultants and 67 County Infirmary. The hospital was originally Nurses. Mr. B. Scarisbrick was County Surgeon, Dr. designed for 125 beds but, in 1971, it accommodat­ P.J. Faul, County Physician, Dr. B. O'Farrell, ed 167 beds within the original building. Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Dr. B. Coyne, Anaesthetist. Sr. M. Angela was Matron and Sam In recent years the hospital has been extended signif­ Oakes was Hospital Administrator. icantly and major developments include a new Theatre complex, Paediatric Ward, Intensive Care At present, the hospital employs over 1,200 staff (full- Unit, C.S.S. Department, Radiology Department time and part-time including 32 full-time Consultants (including CT Scanning and Ultrasound) and Medical and 420 Nurses) and the gross expenditure for 2003 Assessment Unit. A new 45-bed Department of was just over €50 million.

44 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

lishment of a project team to prepare a planning brief for a new hospital, but 10 years elapsed before the phased development of the hospital commenced. The architects for the new hospital were Brady, Stanley, O'Connell Associates and the main contrac­ tors were Matthew Wallace Ltd., Wellington Bridge, Wexford. Phase 1 of the new hospital opened in 1992.

In 2002, the National Development Plan was launched and Wexford General Hospital was put into the general mix of projects, under the NDP. Priorities listed included 75 inpatient beds, 24 space day unit, Wexford General Hospital accident and emergency department, outpatient Wexford General Hospital is built on the site of the department, two theatres, CSSD, a delivery former workhouse for Wexford town. The workhouse suite/special care baby unit/foetal assessment unit, was built to the design of George Wilkinson on a site on-call accommodation and a 45-bed acute psychi­ acquired from Col. Robert Johns, a member of the atric unit. Funding for this project was still awaited at Wexford Board of Guardians. The workhouse, which the time of writing. cost £5,780, had accommodation for 600 when it opened on 25th July, 1842. Some new services have been added in recent years including a medical admission unit, a day hospital for With the abolition of the workhouse system in the the Elderly, CT scanner and a cardiac diagnostic unit. 1920s, the Wexford County Hospital was established, in these buildings, in December 1928. In March Wexford General Hospital provides the acute 1965 the Medical department was transferred to services for the people of County Wexford, which has Brownswood Hospital, Enniscorthy but was subse­ a population of 116,596. quently moved back to Wexford, in 1978. In 1971, hospital services were still being provided in the old The hospital has 206 in-patient beds, 16 day beds, a workhouse buildings. 10 bed Medical Admission Unit and provides a com­ prehensive range of services including General In 1978, the Minister for Health approved the estab­ Medicine, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Respiratory

45 Hospital Facilities Across the Region

Medicine, Geriatric Service, Gastroenterology and Upper and Lower G1 Endoscopy, Paediatrics, Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Radiology, Oncology, General Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Consultant led outpatient clinics are provided in Medicine, Paediatrics, Surgery, Obstetrics /Gynaecology, ENT, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, Oncology, Dermatology, and Palliative Care.

In 1971, the General Hospital services in County Wexford employed a total of 208 people including four Consultant Medical staff and 111 Nursing staff. South Tipperary General Hospital Mr. G.A. McLean-Lee was County Surgeon, Dr. D. St. Joseph's Hospital was built as a workhouse for the O'Driscoll, Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Dr. T. Clonmel area. The architect was George Wilkinson Walsh, Anaesthetist. Sr. Michael Joseph was Matron and work on the building, which had accommoda­ and P.J. Kinsella was Hospital Administrator. The tion for 1,200, commenced in June 1851. The con­ County Physician, Dr. V.T. Doyle was based in tractor was William Doolin, Westland Row, Dublin. Brownswood Hospital, Enniscorthy. The workhouse cost £13,490 to build and was J opened on 10th October, 1853. It functioned as a At present the hospital employs over 900 people workhouse until February 1924 when remaining including 21 Consultant Medical staff and 390 "pauper inmates" were transferred to the County Nursing staff. Gross expenditure for 2003 amounted Homes in Cashel and Dungarvan. to almost €49 million. In 1950, Tipperary (SR) County Council undertook a major upgrading of the building and agreed to designate the hospital, as the County Medical and Maternity Hospital. The transfer of these services from Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel took place in July 1952, when Dr. Tom Prenderville, County Physician, moved to Clonmel. This decision was to have major

46 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

repercussions in the 1970s and 1980s, when the location of General Hospital services in South Tipperary was being considered and caused many acrimonious debates, at meetings of the SEHB. In January 1995, the Minister for Health, Michael Noonan, T.D., approved a proposal to locate all General Hospital services in Clonmel but a further year elapsed before an agreement was signed between the Health Board and the Cashel Hospital Action Committee. The Minister for Health and Children, Micheal Martin, T.D., visited the hospital in October 2003 to mark the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph's and to re-name the hospital "South Tipperary General Hospital". It had been known as "St. Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel Joseph's" for over 100 years. Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel, was built as the County Hospital for South Tipperary. The hospital was The works are now complete to allow the transfer of designed by Vincent Kelly who was regarded as "the Accident and Emergency and Surgical Services from doyen of Irish hospital architects in the 1930s". Cashel, and a wide range of services will be available Building work commenced in March 1935 and the in Clonmel including General Medical, Surgical, main contractor was William Dunne trading as Accident and Emergency, Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Farmer Bros., North Strand, Dublin. The final cost of Oncology, Paediatrics, Radiology, Psychiatry, the hospital was £85,720 and the official opening Physiotherapy and a range of outpatient services. The was performed by Mr. P.J. Ruttledge, Minister for hospital now has a bed complement of 248 and Local Government, on 20th July, 1940. The first employs over 500 staff. Total expenditure in 2003 County Surgeon was Dr. Patrick Hogan who subse­ amounted to almost €30 million. quently became a Fine Gael T.D. for South Tipperary. The first County Physician was Dr. B.J. O'Driscoll and In 1971, the hospital employed 129 staff. Dr. T. Sr. Columba Toomey was first Matron. Prendiville was County Physician, Sr. M. Annunciata was Matron and Jim Nolan was Hospital In 1952 the Medical and Maternity services were Administrator. transferred to Clonmel. In 1995 it was decided that the Surgical services would be centralised in

47 v \ Hospital Facilities Across the Region

Clonmel.

At present, Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel, has 59 in­ patient beds and 20 day beds providing the following specialties: Accident and Emergency, General Surgery and Oncology Day Services. The following diagnostic support services are provided: Radiology, Pathology, Laboratory and Endoscopy. The therapy services provided include Physiotherapy and Clinical Nurse Specialist Services.

In 1971 the hospital had 71 beds and employed 90 people. Mr. Tim Noonan was County Surgeon and Sr. M. Eucharia was Matron. At present, over 200 are Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital, Kilcreene, Kilkenny employed (full-time and part-time) and total expendi­ Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital, Kilcreene was built ture in 2003 amounted to almost €14 million. on the site of Kilcreene House, which was purchased by Kilkenny County Council, in August 1947, to When surgical services are transferred to Clonmel, provide an Orthopaedic Hospital. Mr. R.F. O'Driscoll the new range of services provided on the Cashel took up duty as Orthopaedic Surgeon in October campus will include: Elderly Assessment care, 1949. Kilcreene House was demolished in the 1950s Convalescent Care, Palliative Care, Alzheimer care, and a new regional Orthopaedic hospital was built in Services for people with physical disabilities and 1958, serving Kilkenny, Carlow, Waterford, South Mental Health Care facilities. Tipperary, Laois and Offaly. In March 1959, the hospital, under the auspices of the Sisters of Charity, was re-named Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital, Kilcreene and contained 90 beds.

In addition to the Medical, Nursing and Support staff, the hospital employed two teachers - Mrs. McCarthy and Mrs. Dunne - to educate the children in the children's ward, many of whom spent years in Kilcreene. Kay O'Connor, Head Office, was one of

48 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

the first patients in the children's ward and has many of a County Physician and County Surgeon. Carlow fond memories of her time there. did not get a County Hospital in the 1920s or 1930s. Michael Scott, a well known architect, designed a With the development of the Orthopaedic Trauma County Hospital for Carlow in 1950, but the project Service in Waterford Regional Hospital, Lourdes did not proceed. Various designs were produced Orthopaedic Hospital, Kilcreene now provides the between 1952 and 1957 by Robin Walker and elective Orthopaedic service for the South East area. Ronald Tallon but none of the plans was proceeded It has 57 beds and offers a Radiology and with due to "acute financial stringency". Physiotherapy Service to both inpatients and outpa­ tients. The District Hospital, which was established in the 1920s, functioned in the old Infirmary building until 1975 when it was re-located to the ground floor of St. Dympna's Hospital and comprised 21 adult and four children's beds.

A new 25-bed Maternity unit was built on the grounds of St. Dympna's Hospital in 1975 at a cost of £151,786. In the light of changing developments in the practice of Maternity care, the service in Carlow was discontinued in 1986 and the District Hospital transferred to the Maternity Unit in November 1986. In recent years, two Hospice Care rooms were developed in the hospital, generously part-funded by the people of Carlow Town. An additional 10-bed Carlow District Hospital unit has just been completed and is expected to open Carlow District Hospital was originally located in the early in 2005. former Carlow County Infirmary, which was on the site of the present Sacred Heart Hospital. On the establishment of the State in 1922, a hospital system based on "County Schemes" was introduced. In most counties, a Medical and Surgical hospital called the County Hospital was established under the direction

49 Hospital Facilities Across the Region

Castlecomer District Hospital Castlecomer District Hospital is part of the Gorey District Hospital Workhouse for the area, which was built to accom­ Gorey District Hospital was built in 1940 by Wexford modate 500 and opened in 1853. When the County Council and replaced the Gorey Workhouse, workhouse system was abolished in the early 1920s, which dated back to 1842. The hospital originally Kilkenny County Council decided that Castlecomer consisted of 28 beds including a Maternity unit and Hospital should be kept open for acute care. A was managed by the Sisters of Saint John of God who condition for keeping the hospital open was that the handed over the management of the hospital to the local miners and mine owners pay half the cost of Health Board in 1971. The Maternity beds were maintaining the hospital, but this does not appear to closed in 1986 and were replaced by a Physiotherapy have been implemented. department and four extended care beds.

The hospital now has a complement of 33 beds and The role of the hospital has expanded in recent years many improvements have taken place in recent years and, in July 2000, a new Palliative Care suite was including a new four-bed unit and day room, officially opened by the Minister for Health and upgrading of wards and sanitary facilities. The Children, Micheal Martin, T.D. In September 2001, a hospital plays an important role in healthcare in the new six-bed unit was opened, which increased the Castlecomer area and the involvement of the Friends bed complement to 33. of Castlecomer Hospital, in providing additional benefits for patients is much appreciated.

50 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

Friends of St. Brigid's in recent years has helped the purchase of equipment, which added to the comfort of patients and is much appreciated.

St. Brigid's Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir Carrick-on-Suir District Hospital, now known as St. Brigid's Hospital, opened in 1924. The building was originally used as a fever hospital. The Carrick-on- Suir workhouse, which was located on the Clonmel St. Theresa's Hospital, Clogheen Road, opened on 8th July 1884 with accommodation St. Theresa's Hospital, Clogheen is located,on the site for 500 people. It was burned down during the Civil of the Clogheen Workhouse, which was built in War and was not therefore available to provide 1842. The present building was erected as a Fever hospital accommodation. The land on which the Hospital, in the 1850s. The Clogheen Workhouse workhouse was built was leased in February 1931, to was burned down in November 1922 during the Civil the Davin Memorial Park Company for use as a sports War but the Fever Hospital building survived. It was field and is in use today as the local GAA grounds, in subsequently used by the Civic Guards and was Carrick-on-Suir. opened as a District Hospital in 1926.

St. Brigid's is a 21 -bed hospital providing elderly care The hospital has a complement of 22 beds and services including Respite Care and Palliative Care. provides rehabilitation and respite care for the Important developments in recent years included a elderly. Hospice care services are also provided. new Hospice room and a newly equipped Major improvements to the hospital facilities have Physiotherapy unit. The support received from the taken place in recent years, partly funded by the

51 Hospital Facilities Across the Region

Health Board and the local community through the In January 1874, Denis McGrath and John Scanlan Friends of St. Theresa's. These have included a newly were appointed to build the new hospital at a cost of equipped Physiotherapy unit, new Day Room, £1,390. The work on the building was delayed as Oratory, upgraded sanitary facilities and a Hospice McGrath and Scanlan parted company and it was Suite. finally completed in October 1875 by Mr. Scanlan. When the Poor Law Board of Guardians for Dungarvan was abolished in the 1920s, the fever hospital became the Dungarvan District Hospital. In 1971 it had a bed complement of 36 beds including a four-bed Maternity Unit. This service started in 1971 on the closure of private nursing homes in Dungarvan and of beds in the nearby St. Joseph's Hospital. As the practice of Maternity care changed, the Maternity Unit in Dungarvan was discontinued in 1982. The hospital now has 30 beds providing a range of services including Respite Care, Terminal Care, and a step-down facility for patients discharged from Waterford Regional hospital.

St. Vincent's District Hospital, Dungarvan Due to the inappropriateness of the building, the St. Vincent's Hospital was originally built as a new Health Board in 2000 committed itself to develop a fever hospital, separate from the main workhouse replacement building for St. Vincent's and work on complex. the planning of the new facility is proceeding.

The land on which the hospital is located, containing four acres three roods, was acquired by the Poor Law Commissioners in 1860 from the Duke of Devonshire. In 1869 the Commissioners requested that the Dungarvan Board of Guardians build a fever hospital, but four years elapsed before the Guardians decided to go ahead with the project.

52 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

hospital until 1996, when it was acquired by the SEHB for £1.5 million.

Following upgrading of the top floor, 27 continuing care beds were relocated from St. John's Hospital, Enniscorthy, to Ely Hospital in 1998. The ground floor and first floor containing 37 beds continue in use as a semi-acute private facility pending the relo­ cation of these services to Wexford General Hospital. Ely will then be used exclusively as a facility for the elderly.

Ely Hospital, Wexford Ely Hospital was built by the Sisters of St. John of God and was officially opened by An Tanaiste, Brendan Corish, T.D., Minister for Health and Social Welfare on 1st May 1975. The new hospital replaced the existing Ely House, which had been used by the Sisters since 1944. The Community of St. John of God had purchased the property following the death in 1943 of the owner, Major-General Doran. Ely House was built by Robert Hughes in 1817 and was inherited through marriage by the Doran family in 1866. During World War 1, the property was taken over by the British Admiralty and was used by the United States as a site for a seaplane base, during the last year of the war. Waterford County and City Infirmary The new hospital had 50 beds between private and "Two hundred and two years of existence of serving semi-private rooms, a modern Operating Theatre, the people of Waterford City and County comes to an plus ancillary facilities, and functioned as a private end on 31st October, 1987" - so stated Senator

53 Hospital Facilities Across the Region

Katherine Bulbulia in a debate in Seanad Eireann on the closure of the County and City Infirmary. One of The Infirmary was the first hospital in the South East the oldest hospitals in the South East, the Infirmary to have X-ray facilities, which were introduced in the had its origins in the Leper Hospital, which was 1920s. Down through the years, working in co- situated in St. Stephen Street, Waterford. operation with the statutory health agencies, it played its part in providing Medical, Surgical and Outpatient In 1 774, the Hospital of St. Stephen, with accommo- services for the people of Waterford and surrounding dation for 40 patients, was established in two houses catchment area. in Stephen Street, one endowed by the Leper Hospital and the other by the Earl of Tyrone. A new building At the time of closure, the Infirmary had a bed corn- to replace this accommodation was erected on John's plement of 41 beds. The closure was precipitated by Hill in 1785. the severe cutbacks in public health expenditure in the mid-1980s. Despite many protests, and a petition The County Infirmaries Act 1765, which authorised signed by 36,000 people, the hospital closed on 31st Grand Juries to establish County Infirmaries in 23 October, 1987. named counties, did not apply to Waterford. In 1896, a special Act of Parliament was passed which The hospital buildings were sold by the Board of authorised the designation of the Hospital of St. Trustees, who contributed the sum of €380,000 to Stephen as a Public Infirmary for the County and City the South Eastern Health Board towards the cost of of Waterford. CAT scan services at Waterford Regional Hospital. In 2002, the Trustees contributed a further €956,779 for Following the passing of the Act, the hospital was the provision of an MRI scanner at Waterford closed and completely modernised at a cost of Regional Hospital. £7,336.9.11, which was defrayed by public subscrip­ tion with some individual subscriptions of £1,000.00. The Infirmary buildings have now been converted The hospital re-opened in April 1898 and the admin- into luxury apartments and town houses and are istration of the hospital was transferred from the known as the Orchard and Garden complexes. Mayor and Corporation to a Board of Governors, rep­ resentative of both civic and religious groups in the City and County, together with nominees of those who were annual subscribers to the funds of the hospital.

54 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

decision to close Airmount. The hospital closed in July 1995 and the transfer took place in a smooth and efficient manner, due to the close working relation­ ships between the officials of the South Eastern Health Board and representatives of the Medical Missionaries of Mary.

On the 25th July 1995, all patients and staff from Airmount transferred over to the new Maternity Unit at Waterford Regional Hospital, as did Hannah O'Keeffe, Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny and her baby girl, who was the final delivery at Airmount.

Airmount Maternity Hospital, Waterford During its 52 years in existence, over 50,000 babies Airmount Hospital was opened in February 1951, by were delivered in Airmount. the Minister for Health, Dr. Noel Browne, T.D., and was built on a site of two acres provided by Waterford Corporation. The hospital had accommodation for 30 mothers and infants.

Within its first year of opening the hospital was in financial difficulties. The voluntary committee in charge of the hospital approached the Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, Most Rev. Dr. Coholan requesting that he use his good offices with some religious congregation of nursing sisters, to take over the management of the hospital. The Bishop prevailed on the Medical Missionaries of Mary to come to Waterford and the Sisters took over the man­ agement of the hospital, in August 1952. The devel­ Brownswood Hospital, Enniscorthy opment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Waterford Brownswood House was built by Lady Gray in 1896. Regional Hospital in the mid-1990s resulted in the The Elizabethan style mansion cost £4,000 and the

55 Hospital Facilities Across the Region

building contractor was William Fortune of Enniscorthy. Lady Gray died in December 1918 and was succeeded by her daughter, Baroness Gray (1879-1976). On 4th March 1929, Baroness Gray sold the mansion and 24 acres of land to the Wexford Board of Health for £5,000. Subsequently, the Board of Health added a hospital wing on the south side of the house which was completed in 1939 and, for the following decades, it was used as a sanatorium for Lismore District Hospital the treatment of TB. In 1964 it ceased to function as Lismore District Hospital, which was closed by the a sanatorium and, in March 1965, the Medical Board, in 1987, as part of the cutbacks in health Department of Wexford County Hospital was moved expenditure, was located in part of the Lismore to Brownswood. Workhouse. The workhouse was built to accommo­ date 500 people and opened on 18th May, 1842. The bed complement of the hospital in 1971 was When the workhouse system was abolished in the Medical 64, Children 14 and Older People 55. In 1920s, the District Hospital was established in part of August 1978 the Medical service transferred back to the workhouse. The hospital had a bed complement the County Hospital in Wexford. Brownswood of 21 beds and provided a valuable service to the retained its beds for Older People and also treated people of West Waterford. In 1985, the hospital had some convalescent patients. However, the Health the unique distinction of having three centenarians as Board was forced to close the hospital as part of the patients. Kate Hayden from Mount Mellary celebrat­ 1987 cutbacks in public expenditure. The hospital ed her 100th birthday in December 1985. Also closed on 23rd October 1987. A short time later it present in the hospital was Kitty Flynn from was leased and used as a private nursing home for Ballysaggart, who was 100 some months earlier and some years afterwards. In 1995, Brownswood was Minnie Keating from Lismore who was 103. The sold to Bertram and Maurice Allen, T/A Rhode event was featured on the RTE "Nationwide" (Ireland) Ltd., Courtown, Co. Wexford. programme, by Michael Ryan.

The hospital closed on 17th June, 1987 and subse­ quently it was opened by a local voluntary committee as a residential centre for the elderly with the aid of local funds and assistance from the Board. Some

56 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

years later the committee erected a new building on land provided by the Board and the old hospital was vacated and sold to Waterford County Council.

Auxiliary Hospital, Kilkenny The Auxiliary Hospital, situated at Wolfe Tone Street, Kilkenny, was originally built as a fever hospital.

It closed in 1959 and became an auxiliary to St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny. It had a complement of 36 beds in 1971, but was closed in 1987 as part of the cutbacks in health expenditure. It is currently used by the Community Mental Health Services. •jjrtDiW' •"""

The opening of Myshall Health Centre, Co. Carlow in 1988. Mr. Michael Deering, Chairman SEHB, cuts the ribbon. THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD CHAPTER III - Community Care Services

The establishment of the SEHB brought about major developments, in the Community Care Services.

Prior to 1971, the Health Protection and Promotion functions were provided through the Office of the County Medical Officer, supported by Assistant Medical Officers, Health Inspectors and Public Health Nurses. Dental Officers provided a preventa­ tive dental service for children. The Primary Care Medical Services were provided by the District Medical Officers (Dispensary Doctors) who treated and dispensed medicines for persons with full eligi­ bility. The four Community Care Administrators pictured in 1987: Michael Boland (Wexford); Liam Meighan (Carlow-Kilkenny); With the formation of the Health Boards, the man­ Tony Gyves (Waterford) and Brendan O'Keeffe (South agement of the Community Care Services for the Tipperary). region was assigned to a Programme Manager and Director of Community Care/Medical Officer of Dr. Val Barry was the first Programme Manager in Health (DCC/MOH). Community Care appointed to the Board.

The initial appointments as DCC/MOH were made in The Community Care Services at a local level were September 1975 and the first appointees were Dr. administered through Community Care areas serving Donal O'Brien, CMO, Carlow, Dr. Joseph Solan, a population of 80,000 - 100,000. The SEHB was CMO, South Tipperary and Dr. Brendan Finucane, divided into four Community Care Areas as follows: CMO, Wexford. Carlow-Kilkenny (excluding South Kilkenny); South Tipperary (including North Waterford); Waterford Dr. O'Brien retired soon after and Dr. Denis (including South Kilkenny and excluding North McCarthy was appointed as DCC/MOH for the Waterford) and Wexford (as per county boundaries). Carlow-Kilkenny area on the 1st July 1976. The Community Care team structure was recom­ mended in the McKinsey Report on 'Management in In the Waterford area, Dr. Matthew Maughan, who the Health Services'. was Chief Medical Officer for Waterford City and County, retired from his post in October 1971 and Dr. Each Community Care area was managed by a 3 - Community Care Services

standards, drug control and health promotion, child health screening, early identification and management of disability.

• The Community Welfare Programme included payment to disabled persons, persons with infectious disease, a child care and social work service and services for the care of the elderly in the community, including grants to Voluntary Organisations for meals on wheels, day care and home helps.

Waterford Child Health Office staff pictured in the early 1980s, back row: Denis O'Regan, Eamon Stenson; Colm Walsh. Front: Expenditure on Community Care increased signifi­ Declan Delaney; Nellie Cough and Loretto Keating. cantly during the lifetime of the Board, as this table illustrates: Canice Kelly was appointed Acting CMO - a post he held until his permanent appointment as DCC/MOH, Community Care Expenditure on the 1st April 1976. 1973 1983 1993 2003 The Community Care Services enabled people in the €m €m €m €m community to enjoy a high level of personal health in 3.454 35.722 51.429 260.781 a healthy environment and were delivered through a (22.91 )* (27.5)* (24.14)* (35.04)* number of programmes: *Percentage of total expenditure shown in brackets.

• The Community Health Services provided for A review at national level in the 1990s recommend­ General Practitioner Services, Community ed a number of changes in the management of the Nursing Services and Dental, Ophthalmic and Community Care Services including: Aural Services for persons with full eligibility. • The Community Protection Programme included prevention of disease, protection against • The establishment of a Public Health Department infectious diseases, food hygiene and food

60 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

in each Health Board. to a pharmacy of their choice to obtain any pre­ scribed medication. The number of dispensary • The appointment of a Director of Public Health as doctors in the South East prior to the introduction of head of the Public Health Department who would the scheme was 90. The number of doctors, who be a member of the Management Team; entered the scheme on 1st October, 1972 was 138 and by 2004 this figure had risen to 211.

The working party recommended the creation of a When the Scheme was introduced, 36.6% of the pop- number of posts of Specialists in Public Health Medicine and recommended that existing posts of RECEPTLON DCC/MOH be abolished and that the permanent holders of these posts be absorbed into the revised structure. The Public Health Department was estab­ lished in 1995 and General Managers were appointed to each Community Care area, in 1998.

Primary Health Services: Prior to 1971, general medical services for people on low incomes were provided by the dispensary doctors who were Officers of the Local Authority. The dispensary service had many merits, in that it ensured Seamus O'Doherty, Administrator; Frank Menton, Principal that a medical and nursing service was provided in Environmental Fiealth Officer; Ed Murphy: A/Senior Social rural and remote areas. Worker; Mary Mahon, Superintendent Public Fiealth Nurse; Pat / Walsh, Secretary to the team; Ann McCarthy, Senior Clinical The major drawback of the dispensary system was it Psychologist; john Lysaght, Superintendent Community Welfare discriminated against people of low income, from Officer; Jacinta Culliton, Principal Speech and Language those who were in a position to provide for their Therapist. Front row: Elizabeth Tobin, Senior Physiotherapist; medical care. In 1972, this was replaced by the Dr. Mai Mannix, A/Senior Area Medical Officer; Teasie choice of doctor scheme, whereby the SEHB con­ Brennan, Home Help Organiser; Dr. P.J. Lanigan, Acting tracted with private GPs to provide services to D.C.C.; Dr. Frances Jones, Principal Dental Surgeon and Elaine patients with full eligibility. This enabled all patients, Bowe, Senior Occupational Therapist whether public or private to be seen at one location without distinction. Patients were also entitled to go

61 3 - Community Care Services

ulation in the South East was covered by Medical Bridget Butler Cards.

Initially, doctors were paid a fee for each item of service they provided. However, the new system was to prove far more costly to operate than had been anticipated and within a few years it was difficult to estimate in any year how much the scheme would Bridget Butler, a native of Glasha, Ballymacarbry, Co. cost. More consultations meant more prescriptions Waterford, trained as a General Nurse in the South Infirmary, and soon medicine costs were escalating at a greater Cork, qualifying in 1951. rate than the doctors' fees. Her early nursing career was varied, working in St. Luke's Hospital, Rathgar, Dublin, Newcastle T.B. Hospital, Wicklow, Following discussions with the medical profession, a Ardkeen Hospital, Waterford and St. Agatha's Radiotherapy new GMS Contract was agreed in 1989, based on a Centre, Cork. In 1964 she was appointed Night capitation system of payment. This enabled family Superintendent in Dr. Steeven's Hospital, Dublin, and subsequently did her Midwifery training in the Rotunda doctors to provide better preventive and anticipatory Hospital, Dublin. care for eligible patients. In 2001, eligibility for medical cards was extended to all persons over 70, In August 1966, Biddy as she was known, was appointed as a Public Health Nurse with Kilkenny County Council, initially regardless of income. working in the Callan area before transferring to the County Medical Officer's Department in 1969. Many changes have taken place in the delivery of GP services in recent years, particularly in relation to the She was appointed Superintendent Public Health Nurse for the Carlow/Kilkenny area in 1975 and played a major role in establishment of group practices and the provision of the development and expansion of the Public Health Nursing further education and training. In 1991, the South Service. East Training Programme in General Practice was established and the Caredoc service was introduced, She was elected to the SEHB as a General Nurses' representa­ tive in 1977 and continued to serve on the Board until 1987. in 1999. The Training Programme was modelled on existing Vocational Training Schemes and was one of She died on 13th April, 2000. the first in a region where there was no university with a medical school. Trainees in the Programme rotate through hospital and General Practice posts over their training period which, since July 2002, has increased to four years. Hospital Consultants and

62 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

GPs are largely responsible for teaching and training Health Inspectors and Public Health Nurses. in the hospital and GP rotations. Dr. Martin Rouse, GP, Clonmel, has been Programme Director since the The title 'Environmental Health Officer' replaced that inception of the Programme. of Health Inspector in 1985. The duties of the EHOs were expanded to include licensing, storage and The Caredoc service was established in 1999 and was control of poisons, tobacco control and nursing the first out-of-hours family doctors' co-operative in homes and pre-schools' standards. When the Food Ireland. Caredoc is a service for patients with urgent Safety Authority was established, it assumed respon­ medical problems who need to contact a Doctor after sibility for food safety and hygiene and the EHOs surgeries close. The Caredoc service, which now were contracted, by the Authority, to provide an deals with an average of 2,000 calls per week agreed range of services. commenced on the 10th June, 1999 covering County Carlow and was extended to cover Kilkenny on 1st With the expansion of the Environmental Health November, 2000. The service was introduced in services the number of officers increased substantial­ South Tipperary on 8th May, 2001 followed by ly. In 1971, the SEHB employed 15 Health Inspectors County Wexford on 9th September, 2003. In 2004, around the region. In 2004, 53 Environmental Health Caredoc had 182 member Doctors representing 106 Officers were employed, including supervisory staff. Doctor practices. The Scheme will be extended to the Waterford Community Care area, in 2005. In addition to surveillance and control, the Area

Patient satisfaction surveys are regularly undertaken with the most recent survey in October 2003, showing an overall satisfaction rating of 99%. The cost of the Scheme in the SEHB region in 2004 was approximately €4m.

Health Protection and Promotion Services for the protection of the health of the community were provided under the Infectious Diseases Regulations 1948-1971 and the Food Hygiene Regulations 1950-1971. The SEHB took over these functions and they were implemented by the Best foot forward! Tony Gyves, Biddy O'Neill and Pat DCC/MOH supported by Area Medical Officers, McLoughin stepping out on the Ten Million Mile Walk in 1996.

63 3 - Community Care Services

Immunisation was very important for the protection of people against infectious diseases and the programme for childhood immunisations was provided through the Area Medical Officers and Public Health Nurses in SEHB clinics and by GPs.

Health promotion was undertaken by all disciplines in the community care service but no regional policy was developed until 1985 when arrangements were made with the Health Education Bureau to appoint a Health Education Officer and a regional committee was established to co-ordinate the implementation of Pictured at the National Conference on Health Promotion in health education activity across the South East area. Primary Care, Wexford, November 1999, standing: Chris Fitzgerald, Principal Officer, Department of Health and The Kilkenny Health Project was set up in 1985 to Children; Cllr. Gus Byrne, Chairman, General Hospitals Committee, SEHB; Biddy O'Neill, Health Promotion Co­ undertake a community health promotion ordinator, SEHB; Peter Finnegan, Programme Manager, SEHB; programme to prevent heart disease in general and Clk. Leo Carthy, Chairman, Special Hospitals Committee-, SEHB coronary heart disease in particular. The project and John Cooney, CEO, SEHB. Seated: Cllr. Michael Meaney, worked with community health workers, including Chairman, SEHB; Brian Cowen TD, Minister for Health and GPs and Public Health Nurses. All primary and Children and Cllr. Deirdre Bolger, Board Member. secondary schools were visited to promote healthier choices in eating. A number of publications, Medical Officers were involved in the management including a 'Heart Healthy Cooking' recipe book, of certain infectious diseases like tuberculosis, and were published. The project was supported by the the SEHB also provided a community based regional Department of Health, the Health Research Board, service, for the treatment of sexually transmitted the Irish Heart Foundation and the Voluntary Health diseases. Insurance Board.

Under Infectious Diseases Regulations^ 981, it was Public Health Nursing made compulsory for every medical practitioner to Nursing in the community was first developed by notify the Board of all cases of specified infectious voluntary organisations and many older people will diseases. recall nurses known as 'Jubilee Nurses'. These nurses were employed by local committees who raised the

64 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

The number of PHNs in the SEHB area has increased from 100 in 1971 to 180 in 2004, including supervi­ sory staff.

Speech and Language Therapy In 1972, the SEHB had no Speech Therapists and had great difficulty in recruiting speech therapists, so the Board sponsored students, who on completion of their training were employed by the Board. The speech therapists provided assessment and treatment for children referred from school medical examina­ tions and also services to children with intellectual At the presentation of the ISO 9001:2000 Accreditation Award disability and learning difficulties. They also provided to the Public Health Nursing Department, Waterford treatment services for adults. Community Care, are: Pat McLoughlin, CEO, SEHB; Ivor Callely TD, Minister of State; Dermot Halpin, General Manager, A well developed service is now available around the Waterford Community Care; Geraldine Tabb, Director of Public Health Nursing and Richie Dooley, Regional Manager. region with attendances in excess of 25,000 per year, at the various clinics, hospitals, day centres, pre- money for their wages and they provided a valuable schools and special schools. Fifty-three Speech and nursing service for the poor in their homes. Following Language Therapists, including supervisory staff, the appointment of County Medical Officers, a were employed by the SEHB, in 2004. limited number of nurses were appointed attached to the CMO's office, with duties mainly in the public Dental and Orthodontic Service health service. The Health Act 1947 authorised the In 1971, the dental services provided by the SEHB appointment of Public Health Nurses for district were very limited. The number of dentists employed duties, but it was not until the 1950s that develop­ was 18, but to provide a proper service to school- ment of the service commenced. going children alone, a complement of 27 dentists was needed. In addition to providing preventative services for children and the elderly, the nurses provided A number of years elapsed before the Board treatment services in conjunction with local GPs. The succeeded in recruiting extra dentists, but there still Public Health Nursing service expanded greatly since was an insufficient number to provide services for all 1971 and a structured career path is now in place. children requiring attention. The provision of dental

65 3 - Community Care Services

services for eligible adults was totally inadequate in the early years and this position was not rectified until the introduction of the Dental Treatment Service Scheme in November 1994. This scheme provided treatment for Medical Card holders and the Board made arrangements with private dentists, to provide the service.

Recent years have seen the approval of additional dental teams to support the extension of the range of dental services to children. A Consultant Orthodontist, Dr. Jane Davis, was appointed to the region on 1st December 1992 and this post has Kay O'Leary | resulted in a more comprehensive Orthodontic service. The Orthodontic service provides a high A personal profile of the Waterford Dental Service - quality specialist service in the diagnosis, prevention Kay O'Leary, former Board member and Principal and treatment of dental and facial irregularities to Dental Officer, Waterford Community Care eligible patients. In 1961, having spent two years in London in private practice, I returned to Ireland to work in the public dental service.

I worked for short periods in Kerry; Limerick and Cork before I commenced in Waterford in December 1961. My base was in Ardkeen Hospital and I was assigned duties in the county area.

Investment in the dental service was not a priority, equipment was old and limitedclinics and waiting rooms were cold and exposed to draughts which set the scene for the fear that gripped many young patients. Ill-fitting windows and bare floor-boards were common sites, while unkempt outside toilets

66 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

were sometimes the only facilities available. Staff, Dr. Canice Kelly dental surgeons and nurses were heroic in their ded­ ication - working in these appalling conditions.

I left my temporary post in Waterford, in March 1963, on securing a permanent post in Limerick. I moved to Cork in December, but I had to relinquish my post on Dr. Canice A. (Ken) Kelly, a native of Tullaroan, Co. Kilkenny the 31st March 1964 because of the marriage bar. I worked in the Public Health Service in Waterford City and returned to Waterford and was appointed temporary County for 22 years. dental officer in Waterford city, commencing on the He qualified in 1948 and, after a distinguished career in 1st May 1964. I worked from the health centre in General Practice in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, and in the UK in Hennessy's Road with the late Dr. M. Maughan, who Scunthorpe, Leeds and Great Yarmouth, he returned to Ireland was very interested in children's dentistry and was to pursue a career in Infectious Diseases and Public Health. the first medical officer to introduce water fluorida­ He worked in theTB hospitals at Rialto, Dublin, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, and the Ballyowen Sanatorium, Dublin. He tion outside of Dublin. obtained his Diploma in Public Health in 1952 and started work as Assistant County Medical Officer in Donegal and then There was a lot of poverty in Waterford at this time moved to Co. Cork. and, although we provided a full range of dental He came to Waterford on the 18th November 1965, as services for children, their attendance was erratic and Assistant Chief Medical Officer with Waterford Health only certain families availed of the service. The fear of Authority. During this period, he was awarded a World Health^ dentists stalked the land - possibly precipitated by Organisation Fellowship to study the Care of the Aged and less-effective anaesthesia. The surgery engendered Child Health Services in Europe. terror and panic in many patients. On the retirement of Dr. M. Maughan in October 1971, Dr. Kelly acted as Chief Medical Officer for Waterford City and In early 1965, Seamus O'Hickey was appointed the County. He was appointed to the new post of Director of first Principal Dental Officer in Waterford. The Community Care and Medical Officer of Health in 1976 from which he retired in August 1987. addition of Michael McCarthy to Dungarvan, his aunt, Annie Fennessy to Lismore, Eleanor Power to Dr. Kelly, both in his role as Doctor and Medical Officer of Waterford city and Liam Morrissey to Ardkeen Health and a member of the Board from 1980 to 1992, was Hospital, increased the number of public dental instrumental in developing the Public Health Service in the South East. He was elected Chairman of the Board in 1989. officers in the Waterford area and the service became more structured. The continuous high level of dental Dr. Kelly died after a short illness on 26th June 2001. decay and lack of interest in dental and oral hygiene

67 3 - Community Care Services

escalated the demand for emergency extractions and ; dentures. When the Waterford Community Care area was extended into South Kilkenny, the dental service in In 1965, all temporary employments were terminat­ Waterford gained another dentist, the late James ed. I was still ineligible to apply for the permanent Smyth. He worked from the dispensary in Mullinavat post, so I went into private practice in Tramore to and later from the new health centre in Ferrybank. ensure my skills were not lost. Though it proved to be a most rewarding undertaking, the hours were long, With the ongoing development of the dental services irregular and demanding. An opportunity arose in nationally, more finance was allocated to the December 1969 when I secured a permanent post upgrading and refurbishment of dental premises and with the Waterford Health Authority. to the purchasing of new equipment. Dental nurses made an invaluable contribution to the smooth At this time, the main centre for Waterford moved to running of the service. In particular, I would mention Lady Lane - a fine building which was later to become Brid Murphy - the jewel in the crown - who apart the Waterford City Library. We operated from there from her clinical duties almost single-handed successfully until the Corporation requested its operated the administrative portfolio of the dental vacation in 1972. We moved to a purpose-built pre­ service. fab in Newgate Street in 1973 - a retrograde step we lived to regret. As with all pre-fabs there was great I was appointed Principal Dental Officer in 1979. The heat in the summer and extreme cold in the winter. cutbacks in the 1980s were very severe and the We were limited for space and spent the next 25 dental services were seriously curtailed. The prohibi­ years in this building, despite visits by three Ministers tion on recruitment, locum cover and the threatened for Health, who deplored our situation but lacked the release of temporary staff made almost irreversible finance and leverage to address it. erosions into the service with resulting drop in patient numbers. Enthusiastic dentists were disillusioned and Seamus O'Hickey took up an appointment with the the public dental service was no longer an attractive Department of Health in 1968 as Chief Dental Officer option for new recruits. and was replaced by Michael McCarthy. Sadly, though a young man, Michael was the victim of a The early 1990s saw a positive reversal in our budget fatal road traffic accident, while returning home to allocation. There was an upsurge in developments. Dungarvan after a day's work. A committed dental Plans to build a new health centre for Waterford were surgeon, his premature death was a great loss to the initiated. The orthodontic service was developed service. from 1990 onwards and a suite of rooms was

68 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

designed in WRH to accommodate the newly- Dick Doyle appointed consultant, Dr. Jane Davis, and her team of orthodontists and dental staff. This streamlined the service which, until then, was inequitable, unstruc­ tured and unplanned. In 1994, the Dental Treatment Service Scheme was launched nationally. The scheme offered adult medical card holders an equitable and Dick Doyle, who retired in 1986 as Superintendent transparent service by utilising the expertise of private Community Welfare Officer in Waterford, was described as dentists and enabled the Health Board dentists direct "an outstanding officer for many years who gave of his time and energy to an unprecedented degree at all hours of day and their skills solely to the care of children and special night". needs patients.

In his early career, Dick worked in the sub-post office in The new health centre in Cork Road, Waterford, Gracedieu, Waterford and later was Office Branch Manager opened to patients in 1998 and a new era for Samuel Morris, Coal Merchants, Waterford. commenced for the dental service. It uplifted the In January 1947, he was appointed Assistant Chief Clerk at St. gloom of Newgate Street and raised the morale of the Otteran's Hospital, Waterford, and continued in this post until dental staff. 1952 when he secured the post of Staff Officer, at the new regional Sanatorium at Ardkeen, Waterford. I retired in 2002 after a rewarding career in the public In January 1959, on the recommendation of the Local dental service. I was also honoured to represent the Appointments Commission, he was appointed Superintendent dental profession on the Health Board from 1996 Assistance Officer for Waterford City and County - a post pre­ until 2004. viously held by his father-in-law, Michael Phelan.

Dick had an abiding interest in the welfare of the poor with a Social Work and Child Care Services caring and compassionate approach to the less well off in The first Social Worker was appointed to the Board's society. He was deeply involved at local and national levels in staff in 1972 and, by 1976, one Senior and three Area many organisations dealing with poverty. Social Workers were employed in the region. He was a member of the National Council on Poverty and served on the Commission for Social Welfare. He was active Initially, the functions of the Social Worker were two­ in the local St. Vincent de Paul Society. fold; to help the community to assess its needs and to Dick continues to enjoy a long and well-merited retirement. meet them through appropriate voluntary organisa­ tions, and to provide direct services.

69 3 - Community Care Services

the protection of children, particularly children who had been assaulted, ill-treated, seriously neglected or sexually abused or who were "at risk". The 1991 Act defined a "child" as any person up to 18 years (other than a married person) and the main effect of this was to raise from 16 to 18 years, the age up to which Health Boards were responsible for children and the age up to which children could be placed in care.

The Act placed responsibility on the Health Board to identify children at risk and protect children in their area. It also imposed a statutory duty on Health Boards to promote the welfare of any child in the Pictured at the launch of the Child Health Information Service community not receiving adequate care and protec­ Project (CHISP) in South Tipperary Community Care were: tion. It granted Health Boards new powers to provide Sharon Walsh, Parent Representative; Edel Conway, Project Child Care and Family Support services and gave Officer; Pat McLoughlin, CEO, SEHB and Maeve Martin, Senior Health Boards statutory responsibility for homeless Psychologist. children. It also introduced new legal procedures to In recent years, because of the demands of family and enable Health Boards and the Gardai to intervene child care, a considerable amount of the Social where children were being neglected or abused. Workers' time is concentrated on vulnerable families with children who are "at risk". However, the Act only became operational when the various sections were signed into effect by the The main legal provisions for protecting children at Minister for Health, and the Government indicated risk were contained in the Children's Act 1908. that it envisaged its implementation being phased However, under this Act, a Social Worker or other over a seven year time span. However, the Kilkenny child care employee of a Health Board did not have Incest Case (1993) and other cases of child abuse the right to enter a child's home to investigate enabled the Minister to obtain the funding to whether a child was being abused. A Health Board implement the majority of provisions of the Act did not have any legal right to have a child inter­ immediately. viewed or medically examined without the permis­ sion of the parents. The Child Care Act 1991 made a The implementation of the Child Care Act presented number of important changes in the law as regards significant challenges to the Board and its staff but all

70 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

responded admirably. Home Help Service The Board also took over the funding of five residen­ This service was introduced in 1972 and was mainly tial centres in the South East, except St. Joseph's, provided by part-time staff. Ferryhouse, Clonmel, which remained under the responsibility of the Department of Education. Initially, the service was used principally in the rural areas and the people employed were available Additional staff were recruited and, at present, Child locally and were engaged by Public Health Nurses Care and Family Support services are provided and Superintendent Assistance Officers. The number locally in each of the four Community Care areas and of part-time home helps almost doubled during the the Child Care Manager in each area works closely first two years and a total of 280 were employed at with the Heads of Departments involved. The core the end of October 1974. department is the Social Work Department led by a Principal Social Worker and staffed by Social Work As demand for the service grew, the numbers Team Leaders, Social Workers, Community Child employed continued to increase and, within ten Care Workers, Community Development Workers and Family Support Workers.

Care of Older People The SEHB was at the forefront of developing a com­ prehensive service for the care of older people. Support services for older people to remain in their own homes were developed by expanding the community nursing services, the appointment of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and the home help service.

It was the first Board to provide non consultant led assessment and rehabilitation services, which formed the prototype for other regions before Consultant Pictured at the Retirement Presentation for Sean Clanville, Geriatricians were appointed. The Board also Administrator, Waterford Community Care, in 1982 are, back provided innovative welfare accommodation for row: Teresa O'Brien, jack Hynes, Dr. Kelly, Dick Doyle, Sean Clanville, Mai Clanville, Redmond Russell and Helen older people. Hannigan. Front row: Pauline Croke and Nuala Veale.

71 !

3 - Community Care Services

years, 15 full-time and 705 part-time staff were Relieving Officers became "Home Assistance employed. The service was mainly used for sick or Officers", a situation that continued up to 1977, elderly people who, but for the service, would when they became known as "Community Welfare require long-stay hospital care. Officers".

Whilst the largest category of person covered by the In 2004, there were four Community Welfare teams service are elderly, other categories assisted now in the South East, one based in each of the four include families under stress/at risk and people with Community Care areas - each team under the control physical disabilities. At the end of 2003, over 1,500 of a Superintendent Community Welfare Officer. A part-time Home Helps were employed in the South large part of the Community Welfare Officer's work is East region. The Home Help Organiser in Carlow- administering the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Kilkenny, Teasie Brennan, has served since 1974. Scheme on behalf of the Department of Social Community and Family Affairs. Community Welfare Officers are also involved in the financial assessment Community Welfare Services of various Health Board Schemes such as Medical The obligation to provide assistance for poor persons Cards, Blind Welfare Allowance and Mobility unable to provide the necessities of life for them­ Allowance. In recent years, Community Welfare selves or their dependants, has traditionally been Officers also deal with asylum seekers helping them, linked to the health services. The social health among other things, to find accommodation. service is one of the oldest in existence and radical changes have taken place in the delivery of the Today, the Community Welfare Officers adopt a more service since 1971. It had its origins in the Poor holistic approach to addressing the needs of people Relief Extension Act 1847, which authorised the and helping people help themselves. There is also a appointment of Relieving Officers to assist poor greater emphasis on providing information, advice persons outside the workhouse. The granting of and advocacy. The Poor Law stigma has long outdoor relief was subject to many restrictions and, disappeared. initially, only the long-term disabled and widows with two or more legitimate children could be granted relief. This situation remained substantially Civil Registration unaltered, until the native Irish Government came to The Board in its role as Superintendent Registrar power in 1922. Outdoor relief was re-named "Home carried out important statutory functions in relation to Assistance" and was extended to cover all needy the registration of births, deaths and marriages in the persons. South East area. The purpose of the civil records of

72 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

applying the system to Ireland was attributed to objections from the Catholic Hierarchy.

The Marriages (Ireland) Act, 1844 provided for the registration of marriages, other than those in Catholic Churches, through specially appointed local Registrars of marriages. The Registration of Births and Deaths (Ireland) Act, 1863 was passed into law on 20th April, 1863 and, two months later, the Marriage Registration (Ireland) Act, 1863 was passed.

The Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act, 1972 provided for a number of amendments to the The SEHB held a very successful National Conference for registration code. Up to then, Dispensary Doctors Public Health Nurses and Registered General Nurses who had a preferential right to the registration posts in provide services for the Travelling community. Pictured at the their district. The new law allowed for the re-organi­ conference were, seated: Mary B. Finn-Cilbride, Director of sation and amalgamation of districts and the appoint­ Public Health Nursing, Wexford; Fr. Ken Quinn, Chaplain for ment of Registrars was devolved to the CEO. Travellers, Co. Wexford; Mary Helen Connors, Community Development Worker, Waterford; Standing: Mary Hughes, In November 1974, Joan McCarthy was appointed as Liaison Nurse for Travellers, Wexford; Dr. Neville De Souza, Specialist in Public Health Medicine, SEHB; Theresa Hennessy, the Board's first Superintendent Registrar and the key Senior Health Promotion Officer; Con Pierce, General priority was to re-organise the service and centralise Manager, Wexford Community Care; Angela Power, Clerical the registration system, in the larger towns in the Officer, Wexford Community Care; Audrey Lambourn, region, to which the public had easy access. At that Communications Manager, SEHB and Paula McCall, Liaison stage, there were 98 registration districts under the Nurse for Travellers, South Tipperary. aegis of the Board. This was a slow process which births, deaths and marriages is to keep long lasting took many years to achieve, but by 2004, civil regis­ and reliable records of these events. tration services were provided from 12 locations, within the SEHB area. The registration system was first introduced in 1863 and Ireland was one of the last countries in Europe to Joan McCarthy retired as Superintendent Registrar in adopt the system. A registration system was already April 1988 and the post was not filled until the in operation in Britain since 1836 but the delay in appointment of Jo Redmond in September 1990.

73 3 - Community Care Services

Approximately 70,000 certificates, covering births, Sean Glanville deaths and marriages, were issued each year from the Board's registration offices.

Civil marriage ceremonies were performed by the Registrar of Civil Marriages at a number of locations in the region. Sean Clanville, affectionately known as "George", spent most Modernisation of the service is now being completed of his working life in the health services in County Waterford. and, at present, the registering of all births, deaths He began his career in the office of the Dickens Leather and marriages is done electronically. Company in Dungarvan before taking up a position as Clerical Officer, in 1941, with the Waterford Board of Public Health. This project has been underway for the past few years He was promoted to the post of Staff Officer with the and all birth registrations since 1900 have been Waterford Board of Public Assistance in 1949 and acted as Secretary to the Board for two years from 1952 to 1954. On entered onto a national data base. Similarly, all death the abolition of that body in 1960, he transferred to the registration information since 1966 and marriages Waterford Health Authority. When the SEHB was established since 1950 have been electronically recorded. This in 1971, Sean again moved to the new Board. On the re­ means that it is now possible to obtain a birth certifi­ organisation of the services, he became Administrator for the Community Care Services in the Waterford area. He played a cate in any registration office in the State from prominent part in the development of services in Waterford Letterkenny to Dungarvan. and gained a large number of friends during his 40 years of service to the people of Waterford. Jo Redmond retired from her post in June 2003 and An avid golfer, Sean was also prominently involved with An was succeeded as Superintendent Registrar by John Forsa Cosanta Aitiuil. He retired in October 1981, but Hogan. continued in a temporary capacity up to April 1982, when he was succeeded by Tony Gyves. Community Care Headquarters Sean's brother, Gerry, worked in the health services in the When the Board was established in 1971, the office South East for 46 years, initially as Supplies Officer in St. accommodation for the administration of Community Patrick's Hospital, Waterford, when the hospital served as the Care services in each county area was far from satis­ County Hospital for Waterford. When the General Hospital services were moved to Ardkeen in 1959, Gerry transferred factory as most of the buildings were inadequate to there and he worked as Supplies Officer, until his retirement cope with a developing service and, in some cases, in August 1993. the existing services were dispersed in several locations. The County Clinic at James' Green,

74 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

Kilkenny was probably the most modern of all the Bernie Smyth buildings. It was built in 1957 and the two-storey building accommodated the County Medical Officer and associated staff. Various clinics were held in the building including TB clinics, Child Welfare clinics, ENT clinics and Dental clinics.

Bemie Smyth worked for many years in the Child Care Services in Wexford.

She qualified as a Residential Child Care Worker in the UK and worked there for 15 years before taking up duty in Wexford Community Care as Houseparent in the Child Care Centre in Walnut Grove, Wexford town, in February 1981.

Prior to 1981, St. Michael's Home, Wexford, run by the Sisters of Mercy, was the only residential unit for the care of children in County Wexford, with accommodation for 15 children. St. Michael's Home was closed by the Mercy Order in 1981, leaving Wexford without any residential child care facilities.

The SEHB immediately purchased two semi-detached houses from Wexford County Council and Walnut Grove Residential Unit was established. This was the first Health Board residential child care unit of its kind in the country. All other such units were owned or managed by religious orders or voluntary organisations.

The quality and standard of residential child care and after care services in Wexford in the 1980s was achieved through the dedi­ James' Green Kilkenny cation and professionalism of Bernie Smyth. A true professional, she continued to improve her knowledge and expertise in the child care field. Rapid developments in Community Health services resulted in the need to provide additional accommo­ In 1993 she was awarded a Higher Diploma in Child Care Services followed up with a Masters Degree in Child Care from dation for the services in Kilkenny as many of the University College, Cork. She studied for the Diploma and new services were dispersed throughout Kilkenny Degree whilst working full time as Houseparent in charge of the Child Care Centre. City. In 1989, a site adjacent to the County Clinic was acquired from Avonmore, but, it was not until In December 1994 she moved to the newly created post of Community Child Care Worker. Here, again, she excelled in the 1995 that funding was provided to construct an level and standard of support given to children leaving care. extension to the existing building. The main contrac­ tor for the development was P.M. Cantwell, Kilkenny Bernie Smyth died in September 1998, after a short illness. and the work was completed in the summer of 1996.

75 3 - Community Care Services

Before the new centre opened, services were provided in over ten premises throughout the City. The principal locations were The Mall, Newgate Street, offices at St. Patrick's Hospital and O'Corinell Street, which many of the staff will remember. •.. w'- •'' L?- T -JJ ** -j_i

ir h In South Tipperary, the County Clinic situated on the Western Road, Clonmel housed the Community Care Services and underwent major renovations and extensions over the past 30 years. However, there was still insufficient space on the site to accommo­ date all the Community Services and, in recent years, it was necessary to locate some services elsewhere Community Care Headquarters, Waterford. including the former Nurses' Home at St. Luke's Hospital, Clonmel. In Waterford City the accommodation was grossly inadequate and hindered the proper development of the services. Initially, consideration was given to using the Waterford County and City Infirmary but this did not materialise and it was to take many years before the region's largest centre of population was provided with proper facilities.

A new Community Care Headquarters was officially 6i opened at Cork Road, Waterford in November 1998, by the Minister for Health and Children, Brian Cowen, T.D. The new centre, which cost almost €5.1 million, was built on a site acquired from the Good Shepherd Sisters and provides health centre facilities of the highest standards to 45,000 people living in the city of Waterford and immediate environs. It also served as the administrative headquarters for an area covering a population of 104,000. County Clinic, Clonmel.

76 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

In Carlow Town, the service was also dispersed in the early years of the Board. Temporary accommodation was provided for the County Medical Officer for Health and staff at Court Place, Carlow. The central block in St. Dympna's Hospital, Carlow was also used before a new building was erected in 1987 at a cost of £425,000.

Carlow Town, Community Care Offices. | In a bizarre twist of fate, the Minister for Health, whose stringent cutbacks led to the closure of New Wexford Community Care Headquarters. Ross District Hospital in April of 1988, officially opened the same building as a Community Hospital in 1989. And, not only did Dr. Rory O'Hanlon, T.D. In Wexford, the Community Care Services were wish the venture every success in the future, he also located at Crogan's Road, since the mid 1950s, in promised that, for as long as he was Minister for what was the site of the Fever Hospital. Health, he would continue to ensure that his Department would provide at least £40,000 per year New Ross Community Hospital for the running of the hospital. New Ross District Hospital served the local community well, from its opening in the 1930s until The hospital strives for all that is best in the care and it closed in 1988, due to Health Board cutbacks, treatment of those who are ill, with special emphasis leaving a serious gap in local facilities for those most on keeping patients locally, near their friends and in need. The hospital re-opened in 1989 under a relatives. The ethos of Community Care is expressed Board of Management drawn from the local in extended visiting hours, family involvement and community and operating on a non-profit making local Doctors in attendance. basis.

77 3 - Community Care Services

St. Vincent's Community Health Centre, Tipperary standably strong, and the Board's decision to close This building housed the former St. Vincent's District the hospital was challenged unsuccessfully in the Hospital. St. Vincent's was originally part of the High Court. At the time of closure on the 15th June, British Military Barracks complex which was built in 1987, the hospital contained 42 beds. However, a Tipperary Town in the years 1874 to 1878. The short time later the building was re-opened as a military barracks was destroyed by fire in July 1922 Community Health Centre including Day Care during the Civil War. Centre for the Elderly and Community Psychiatric Services. The hospital building survived and was taken over by Tipperary S.R. County Council. The hospital opened Major upgrading works including a new extension on the 25th June 1930 and it functioned as a District have been completed since the building re-opened Hospital until 1987 when severe cutbacks in health and it is now the focus of a comprehensive budgets forced the SEHB to close a number of District Community Health service for the people of West Hospitals throughout the region including St. Tipperary. A new Mental Health. Day Care Centre, Vincent's. The reaction among the local community Cuan Croi, costing €635,000, was officially opened in Tipperary to the loss of the hospital was under­ on the 23rd May 2003, on the St. Vincent's campus. CHAPTER IV - Mental Health Services and Services for Older People and People with Disabilities Mental Health Services and Services for Older People and People with Disabilities were managed under the Special Hospitals Programme. Mental Health Services were provided in four catchment areas, Waterford, Tipperary, Wexford and Carlow/Kilkenny. When the Board was established, in 1971, the bed capacity of the five large Psychiatric hospitals in the South East exceeded 2,300 and the number of patients in each hospital was:

St. Luke's Hospital, Clonmel 592 St. Otteran's Hospital, Waterford 478 Most Rev. Dr. Michael RussellBishop of Waterford and St. Senan's Hospital, Enniscorthy 432 Lismore, planting a beech tree on the grounds of St. Luke's St. Can ice's Hospital, Kilkenny 365 Hospital, Clonmel, to mark the 150th anniversary of the St. Dympna's Hospital, Carlow 327 hospital on the 16th January 1985. The tree is being held by Eamon Lonergan, Hospital Administrator. Included in the picture also are: Tony Slattery; Con Donovan; Cllr. Jack Crowe, Total: 2,194 Chairman, Tipperary South Riding County Council; K. Haran, ACNO; Kay O'Corman; Dr. Jim Morrison; Aid. Sean Lyons, In addition, the Psychiatric units in the Acute Mayor of Clonmel; J. Fitzgerald, ACNO; Cllr. Sean Byrne TD Hospitals in Clonmel and Waterford had a total of 96 and Michael Kelly, Land Steward. beds. Ireland's excessive hospitalisation rate for the based residences. mentally ill had been examined by a special Commission of Enquiry on Mental Illness, which Unfortunately, the Commission did not suggest an reported in 1966. implementation process and financial constraints meant that many of the recommendations were not The Commission recommended far reaching changes implemented. When the Commission reported, an in the services, stating that there should be a signifi­ acute unit was already in existence in Ardkeen cant and widespread provision of alternatives to hos­ General Hospital, Waterford. A new unit was in the pitalisation. Short-time care should be provided in course of construction in Clonmel and this unit was units based in General Hospitals. It also recommend­ managed as part of St. Joseph's Hospital, when it ed a variety of community based alternatives, such as opened, in October 1968. day hospitals, day centres, hostels and community- 4 - Mental Health Services and Services for Older People and People with Disabilities

Dr. Patrick Grace Thirty-seven years after the Commission's Report, a Department of Psychiatry opened for the Carlow/Kilkenny area in March 2003 at St. Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny. To-date, no acute unit has been provided for County Wexford.

During the 1970s, the rate of progress in the provision Dr. Patrick Grace was a Kilkenny man with a great love of of modern Psychiatric services was disappointingly hurling, especially Kilkenny hurling. slow and, by the end of the decade, Board Psychiatric He qualified in medicine in U.C.D in 1943, and worked for hospitals in the South East contained over 2,000 many years as a psychiatrist in St. Canice's Hospital, patients. Kilkenny before he was appointed as R.M.S./Chief Psychiatrist in St. Senan's Hospital, Enniscorthy in 1970. In 1979, the annual admission rates to the units in the Dr. Grace was a founder member of Wexford Mental Health general hospitals were: 911 to St. Michael's Unit, Association and a leader of mental health promotions in the Clonmel, and 460 to St. Declan's Unit, Waterford. community throughout County Wexford.

Other services, however, were only in their infancy at He was a strong advocate of patients' rights and for better that stage. services and more independent and quality lifestyles for each and every individual patient.

Community Nurses - Twenty psychiatric nurses were In November 1978, Dr. Grace returned to his beloved working in the community. The numbers per area Kilkenny to the post of Chief Psychiatrist in St. Canice's Hospital, a position he remained in until his retirement in varied from one per 15,000 population to one per October 1983. 31,000 population. Dr. Grace was one of the outstanding and distinguished psy­ Hostels - Three hostels accommodated 16 people in chiatrists of his era. Waterford City and one in Carlow had six residents. He placed a high value on the importance of work as a form Two hostels in Enniscorthy accommodated eight of therapy and, even as far back as the early seventies, people. operated an open door admissions policy for both male and female patients.

Day Care - The Board provided facilities for day Dr. Grace died in February 2003. patients at its five Psychiatric hospitals; patients came to the hospital and participated in work activation,

80 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

and returned to their homes at night. In addition, policy document called "Planning for the Future". there was a special Day Centre in Carlow, which This report was to have wide ranging effects on the provided 25 places for day care/activation. delivery of mental health services. The concept of "sectorisation" was introduced as a fundamental Outpatient Clinics - played an important part in element in mental health care delivery and involved keeping patients out of hospital and, in 1979, over the same multi-disciplinary team being responsible 1,200 clinics were being held per annum in 35 for the same sector population. locations around the region. Total attendances at out­ patient clinics were in excess of 19,000 per year. The Report was adopted by the Government and by the Health Boards, as a policy for the future develop­ Dissatisfied with the rate of progress, the Minister for ment of the Mental Health Service. Health, Eileen Desmond, T.D., in 1981 established another working party, which reported in 1984, in a The Board agreed that the service should be organised on the basis of:

• Four catchment areas coinciding with existing Community Care areas • General Hospital units in Kilkenny and Wexford and • Sectors based on geographical areas of about 25,000 population.

When the report was published in 1984, the number of in-patients had decreased to 1,745. Elderly patients constituted 42% of that number and 19% were people with intellectual disabilities.

Pictured at the signing of the contract for the Sacred Heart Major changes were also taking place in the service, Hospital, Carlow, in 1985 are, seated: J. Doyle; E. Cleary in order to comply with the terms of the Employment (Contractors); S. McCauley, Chairman, SEHB; P. McQuillan, Equality Act 1977, especially in relation to the CEO, SEHB; P. Rooney, Architect. Back row: Dr. J. Kelly; J. McNicholl (Architect); V. Curtis (].V. Tierney); J. Cleary assignment of female nurses to wards traditionally (Contractors); Sr. Annunciata (Matron); J. Cooney, Programme staffed by male nurses. Manager; P. Duffy, M. McCauley, Hospital Manager.

81 4 - Mental Health Services and Services for Older People and People with Disabilities

In 1985, the average number of beds in the region per Dr. Bertram Blake 1,000 of the population reduced to 3.6 and this resulted in an improvement of the Nurse-Patient staffing ratio.

Dr. Blake was born in Dublin on 9th October, 1914. He qualified in medicine in 1937 and obtained the Diploma in Psychological Medicine in 1939.

His early working career was in the Meath Hospital, Dublin; Mullingar Mental Hospital and the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, Dublin.

In 1941 he was appointed to a permanent post in Limerick Mental Hospital where he remained until he took up duty as Croup taken after the presentation of certificates to new Resident Medical Superintendent in St. Dympna's Hospital, Psychiatric Nurses in St. Canice's Hospital, Kilkenny, in March Carlow in November 1957. Dr. Blake spent the following 22 1974, seated: Roger Byrnes, Deputy Head Nurse; Mr. Hogan, years in Carlow and, within a short few years of arriving, he Head Nurse; Dr. D. Hayes, RMS; Ms. E. Ryan (Matron); Fr. J. changed the manner in which the service was delivered from Ryan, Chaplain; Mr. L. Bennett, Tutor. Standing: Nurses Mary the old custodial system, adopting a preventative and curative Kearney, Bridget Kelly, Alice Fitzpatrick, John Coonan, Mary approach. During his time, the "open door" system came into Phelan, Patricia Kelly, Margaret Walsh and Michelle Power. operation and the high walls surrounding the hospital were (Photo: © Tom Brett). lowered.

In the Community Psychiatric service, attendances at Dr. Blake's imaginative and innovative approach to the clinics rose by 3% and at day hospitals by 26%. Day treatment of mental illness brought about major reductions in places increased from 77 to 104 and the number of the numbers of inpatients in St. Dympna's enabling many Community Nurses increased to 26 reflecting re­ more patients remain at home and live in the community. deployment programmes in Enniscorthy and Kilkenny. Dr. Blake died in January 1984.

A number of other changes in the use of existing staff

82 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

resources also took place during 1985. Two Michael McCauley Alcoholism Counsellors were trained in Wexford. Managers and some instructors were appointed to workshops in Waterford, Clonmel and Kilkenny resulting in an improved performance in these units. In St. Canice's Hospital domestic staff were re­ deployed from the kitchens onto the wards improving Michael (Mick) McCauley was a native of Athy, Co. Kildare general cleaning cover. The first supervised hostel for and spent his entire working career in the public services, in 16 patients was provided in Gorey, staffed from St. the Carlow/Kildare area. Senan's Hospital, Enniscorthy. Generally, these changes effected a strengthening of the community He commenced as a Clerical Officer in Carlow Co. Council in base of the service, with a reduction in the negative 1948 and subsequently worked as a Staff Officer with Kildare aspects of institutional care. Co. Council. In 1967, he was appointed Secretary to the Carlow/Kildare Mental Health Board, the body responsible for 1986 was a landmark year in Psychiatry in the South the management of St. Dympna's Hospital, Carlow. East. During the year the Board was involved in a clash between two strategies of change; an evolu­ In 1971, he transferred to the SEHB and became responsible tionary strategy advocated in "Planning for the for the management of all hospital services in Carlow. Future", which was being pursued by the Board, and a more robust strategy adopted by the central govern­ During his time in Carlow, Mick played an important role in ment, when the Minister suddenly announced the the transformation of the Mental Health Services. Working closure of St. Dympna's Hospital, Carlow, during the closely with Dr. Bertram Blake, the Resident Medical 1986 Budget Speech in Dail Eireann. Superintendent, many community services were developed while, at the same time, ensuring that inpatient accommoda­ tion was maintained to a very high standard. In 1986, when On the 30th January 1986, the Secretary of the the Department of Health announced the closure of St. Department of Health notified the CEO that the Dympna's Hospital, Mr. McCauley was to the forefront of closure of St. Dympna's Hospital would be those who successfully opposed the closure at that time. announced by the Government that afternoon, in a budget speech to Dail Eireann. The necessary funds Mr. McCauley retired in 1992 after 44 years service. to operate the hospital beyond the 30th June, 1986 were withheld.

In January 1986, St. Dympna's Hospital provided

83 4 - Mental Health Services and Services for Older People and People with Disabilities

services for 114,000 people in County Carlow and most of County Kildare south of Naas, and had 334 patients. One third of these were over 65 years of age (109). A further 71 were people with intellectual dis­ abilities and, of the remaining 154 patients, 124 were long-stay Psychiatric patients. The hospital had one of the most favourable bed ratios to population in the country and was the lowest staffed hospital in Ireland.

The announcement was greeted with anger and dismay in Carlow. Coincidentally, on 31st January 1986, the Minister for Health, Mr. Barry Desmond, T.D., was in Clonmel to officially open a new 100- To honour his election as Mayor of Kilkenny, Aid. Tommy bed unit at St. Luke's Hospital. The Minister was Martin was presented with a silver tea service by fellow staff given a very hostile reception by large numbers of members of St. Canice's Hospital in October 1974. protesting staff, from Psychiatric hospitals in the Photographed are: Mrs. and Aid. Martin, Dr. D. Hayes, RMS, region. Michael Hogan, Chief Male Nurse and Nurse Mary Clarke, Organiser. (Photo: © Tom Brett).

The impact which the Minister's announcement of By the end of the 1980s, the phased establishment of the closure of the hospital had on the staff and a community orientated service in each area had not patients was considerable. proceeded as rapidly as the Board would have wished, mainly because of a scarcity of the capital In 1986, in discussions with the Department of resources required to provide the necessary facilities. Health, compromise proposals were put forward for Because of the need to make financial savings in the the development of Mental Health services in 1980s, the resources available for re-deployment to* Carlow, including the provision of a Department of community services were also very modest. Some Psychiatry to serve the Carlow/Kilkenny catchment progress, however, was achieved and, at the end of area based at St. Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny. the decade, nine Psychiatric Day Centres were in The closure of St. Dympna's Hospital did not proceed operation and 55 Community Residences providing as proposed and, instead, a programme was put in 288 places. place which provided for the development of services in Carlow and Kilkenny, as one catchment area. In the early 1990s, five-year Service Plans were prepared and approved by the Board for the provision

84 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

of a locally based comprehensive community at St. Canice's. In November, a Hospital Manager oriented service in Waterford, Wexford and South was appointed for the combined catchment area. An Tipperary. A plan for the development of services in important change took place in January 1992, when Carlow/Kilkenny was approved by the Board in April the admission of patients from County Kildare to St. 1989. Dympna's Hospital ceased. This resulted in a signifi­ cant decrease in the number of admissions to the The continuing non-availability of the capital hospital. There were 278 admissions to St. Dympna's required to develop the alternative community based in 1992 compared with 607 for 1991. services delayed the implementation of Service Plans. During 1992, administrative arrangements were put In April 1992, approval was received from the in place to combine the Carlow and Kilkenny Department of Health for the planning of the services, within a unified management structure. In Department of Psychiatry, at St. Luke's General July, Dr. Niall Griffin, Resident Medical Hospital, Kilkenny, to replace the existing admission Superintendent (RMS) at St. Canice's Hospital, took facilities at St. Dympna's Hospital and St. Canice's on the additional responsibilities of RMS at St. Hospital. An indication of the length of time it takes Dympna's Hospital, while retaining his post of RMS to bring a project to fruition can be gauged from the 11 years which elapsed before the unit was opened.

In recent years, there has been a strong commitment to develop a multi-disciplinary approach to service provision and also integration with other services. Nationally, the trend towards the reduction of inpatient numbers in Psychiatric hospitals has been a feature of the Mental Health services since the early 1960s.

This trend is mirrored in the SEHB region, with increasing service provision evident in community- based settings. Day care and day hospital services, Some of the Technical Services staff had the chance to meet Micheal Martin TD, Minister for Health and Children during his community residential facilities and out-patient visit to St. Dympna's Hospital in Carlow in 2004, including clinics have all been expanded within the Board's Martin Culleton, Pat Hughes, Martin Knowles, Michael area. Mayling, Maintenance Officer, Eamon O'Toole and Jimmy Walsh. 85 4 - Mental Health Services and Services for Older People and People with Disabilities

65 St. Dympna's, Carlow 594 11,412 (84) 90 St. Canice's, Kilkenny 506 17,837 (109) 163 St. Luke's, Clonmel 766 19,747 (174) 116 St. Otteran's, Waterford 667 16,086 (132) 156 St. Senan's, Enniscorthy 580 17,338 (171) 590 TOTALS: 3,113 82,420 (670)

The number of beds in the five Psychiatric hospitals in the Board's area reduced from in excess of 2,300 in 1971 to 670 at the end of 2003.

The development of acute in-patient care based in General Hospital settings has been a feature of Mental Health services in recent, years and the opening of the Department of Psychiatry at St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, in March 2003 was the culmina­ ! tion of many years of frustration in the provision of improved patient care facilities by the Board for the Micheal Martin TD, Minister for Health and Children, pictured during the official opening of the Acute Psychiatric Unit at St. Kilkenny/Carlow area. A major disappointment Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, in 2004 with Dr. Mary Mooney, during the lifetime of the Board has been the failure Consultant Psychiatrist, Carlow-Kilkenny Mental Health to provide an acute unit for the people of Wexford Services; Pat McLoughlin, CEO; Dr. Sean McCarthy, Chairman, and, while a project team has been appointed to plan SEHB and Mary O'Hanlon, Manager, Carlow-Kilkenny Mental Health Services. 86 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

the unit, if past experience is anything to go on, it will inherited six former workhouses, which were being be many years before the unit will open. used as long-stay accommodation for older people. Life expectancy had increased to over 70 years but Institutional Services for Older People many of the elderly still managed to lead largely Most people in Ireland today can look forward to independent lives despite the lack of community living into old age in contrast to the early 1900s, based services. However, the lack of such services when life expectancy was around 50 years. When the Health Board was established in 1971, it

The Chairman of the SEHB, Dr. Sean McCarthy, pictured attending his last official function as Chairman, opening the refurbished St. Benedict's Ward at St. Patrick's Hospital, Cashel.

resulted in the institutionalisation of some people who otherwise could have been cared for at home.

During the past 30 years, only one of the former President Mary McAleese pictured with her husband Martin workhouse buildings was totally replaced with a new planting a tree with the two groundsmen from St. Patrick's purpose built hospital for older people. In 1988, the Hospital, John Devereux and Paul Scannell, following the new Sacred Heart Hospital in Carlow was opened. launch of the Senior Helpline. Also included are: Anne However, substantial improvement works were Kennedy, Director of Nursing, St. Patrick's Hospital, Waterford, carried out in the other areas, including the provision and Tony Gyves, Manager, Waterford Mental Health and of assessment/rehabilitation in all hospitals for the Elderly Services.

87 4 - Mental Health Services and Services for Older People and People with Disabilities

elderly. Work has commenced on the building of a Sr. Augusta Redmond new replacement hospital for St. John's Hospital, Enniscorthy. In 1971, the policy on services for the elderly was based on a 1968 Government Report "The Care of the Aged". This report recommended radical reform in the elderly care services and was very critical of the manner in which old people were admitted to county Sr. Augusta Redmond from New Ross, County Wexford, a homes. Day Hospitals, Day Care Centres, Welfare member of the St. John of Cod Community, took up duty as Matron of St. Columba's Hospital, Thomastown on 1st April, 1979.

Prior to taking up duty in Thomastown, Sr. Augusta had an interesting and varied Nursing career working in St. John's Hospital, Enniscorthy, Wexford County Hospital, Aut Even Hospital, Kilkenny and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, where she completed her Midwifery training in 1968/69. She subsequently went to Australia where she gained further Nursing experience from 1970 to 1974.

Her enthusiasm, drive and vision saw the development of services within St. Columba's Hospital with the opening of the Day Care Centre in 1979, Rehabilitation Unit in 1982 and the Alzheimer's Unit in 1992. Michael Noonan TD, accepting a presentation from Sr. Mairead Foley during a visit to Dungarvan. Also in the photo are Tony Gyves, Ann Angelsey and Dolly Lannon. She left behind a legacy of high standards through her com­ mitment, dedication and hard work. She retired on the 30th Homes and Geriatric Assessment Units were among September, 1998. Her valuable contribution to services for the range of services advocated by the report's the elderly in County Kilkenny is well recognised throughout authors. the region.

Most of the recommendations were not immediately implemented due in the main to lack of capital funding. Within a few years of being established, the

88 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

greatest impact was made by the Board in the Dr. W.A. Ryan provision of Welfare Homes, with new 40-bed homes being built in Carlow, Dungarvan and Tipperary Town in the 1970s. A new home was built in Clonmel in 1984.

Services for the older person have improved signifi­ Dr. William A. Ryan was Medical Officer in St. Patrick's cantly with the focus on supporting independent Hospital, Cashel for a period of 32 years from 1961 to home living as far as possible and the promotion of a 1993. positive attitude towards ageing. The Board continued to strengthen and develop its relationship A native of the Cashel area, Dr. Willie, as he was widely with the voluntary agencies, which specialise in the provision of services for the elderly, including the and affectionately known, made an enormous contribution Carers' Association and the Alzheimers Association of to the health services in the local community as a highly Ireland. respected and proficient General Practitioner, in addition to his pioneering work in the care of the elderly in St. Patrick's Hospital, Cashel.

Dr. Ryan's enlightened and humane approach to the care of the elderly was instrumental in transforming St. Patrick's Hospital, especially his work in the setting up in 1979 of the Assessment/Rehabilitation Unit.

Dr. Ryan died on 14th June, 1999.

Minister of State, Ivor Callely TD, plants a tree to mark the opening of the new Alzheimer's Garden at St. John's Hospital, Enniscorthy, in September 2004.

89 4 - Mental Health Services and Services for Older People and People with Disabilities

of the beds, however, were occupied by older Ongoing developments in the care of the elderly people. The County Homes, as they were then included the strengthening of the multi-disciplinary called, dealt with many categories of people care teams with the appointment of additional including unmarried mothers and their children, Paramedical staff to support hospital and community people with intellectual disabilities, and "casuals", based services; the appointment of Co-ordinators of i.e., homeless persons who remained for a few nights Services for Older People in each Community Care only. During the 1970s, alternative provision was area to enhance co-ordination of community support made for these categories and currently only the structures and the appointment of additional Nursing, elderly are cared for. Paramedical and Care Assistant staff in the six long stay Geriatric hospitals. Health services for older The following is a comparison of bed numbers and people have improved immensely over the past 30 costs in 1972/73 and 2003 in the Board's Hospitals: years but much still remains to be done.

When the Boards was established, the long stay hospitals contained\n excess of 1,400 beds. Not all

St. Columba's, Thomastown 280 150 163 6,900

St. Joseph's, Dungarvan . 220 102 187 6,112 •

St. John's, Enniscorthy 290 180 220 8,577

St. Patrick's, Waterford 140 _ 122 188 5,596

Sacred Heart, Carlow 160 101 133 5,037

St. Patrick's, Cashel 330 140 171. 7,517

TOTALS: 1,420 795 1,062 39,739

90 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

Sr. Mairead Foley

Sr. Mairead Foley retired from her post of Director of Nursing at St. Joseph's Hospital, Dungarvan, on the 2nd April, 2001.

Originally from Butlerstown, Co. Waterford, she entered the Mercy Order and studied as Student Nurse at the Mercy Convent, Cork, from 1961 to 1964. Having staffed in Cork % and later Dungarvan, she went to Our Lady of Lourdes The 2004 Rose of Tralee winner, Or/a O'Shea, visited staff and Hospital, Drogheda where she qualified as a State Certified patients at St. Columba's Hospital, Thomastown, with Director Midwife in 1966. She returned to Dungarvan as a permanent of Nursing, Sheila O'Byrne, Ailish Geraghty, and secretary, Maria Boland. Pic: Michael O'Byrne, Jerpoint West, Staff Nurse on the 15th August, 1967. Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny.

In April 1981, she was appointed Matron at St. Joseph's Hospital. In her early years, she was known as Sr. Augustine but changes in religious rules allowed her revert to her own family name.

Sr. Mairead endeared herself to patients, their relatives and staff with her kind and caring approach. Her dream for the replacement of the hospital with new purpose-built facilities was not fulfilled but, during her term of office, she did succeed in having major renovation and upgrading works carried out in St. Joseph's Hospital. The signing of the contract for Phase 1 development works at Our Lady's Hospital Cashel, (l-r front row) Eamon Lonergan Sr. Mairead was an indefatigable worker in improving Project Manager, Patrick McDevitt PJ Walls • Ltd, Pat Veale methods of care and comfort for the elderly and, in her spare Director PJ Walls Ltd, John Magner Acting CEO SEHB, Dr. Sean time, involved herself in voluntary organisations devoted to McCarthy SEHB Board Member, (back row) Peter Ryan Technical Services Officer, Dr. Neville deSouza SEHB, Cllr. Jack the care of the elderly in the community. Crowe SEHB Board Member, Margaret Ryan Asst Director of Nursing, Cllr. Tom Ambrose SEHB Board Member, Seamus Moore A/General Hospital Manager and Doanl Deering Technical Services SEHB. 91 4 - Mental Health Services and Services for Older People and People with Disabilities

Una Murphy

Una Murphy retired in June 2004 as Director of Nursing, St. John's Hospital, Enniscorthy.

A native of Co. Wexford, Una commenced her Nursing career in 1964 in the Mater Hospital, Dublin and subsequently completed her Midwifery training at the National Maternity Hospital, Dublin. She returned to Co. Wexford in 1968 as a Staff Nurse in St. John's Hospital, Enniscorthy and, in 1978, was appointed Assistant Matron. Three years later she was appointed Matron. Visit of Michael Noonan, Minister for Health March 1996, to St. Luke's Hospital, Clonmel. Front Row: M. Lynch, j. Crowe, M. She played a major role in the development of elderly care Ferris, K. Quirke, M. O'leary, M. Noonan, Minister for Health, T. services in County Wexford in particular the provision of reha­ Ambrose, T. Ahearn, Dr. J. Morrison, J.Cooney, E. Lonergan. Also bilitation/assessment services at St. John's Hospital. She was included: B. Lennon, D. Ryan, Dr. /. Carey, /. Fitzgerald, A. actively involved in the development of elderly services at Ely Byrne-Lynch, C. Donovan, P. Pollard, Dr. C. Tully, M. Bergin, E. Hospital, Wexford which saw 27 continuing care beds Lonergan. relocated from St. John's Hospital, Enniscorthy, to cater for the Wexford Town area.

She was a forceful campaigner for improved accommodation for the elderly. She was an outspoken critic of the unsatis­ factory standard of accommodation in St. John's Hospital and was actively involved in the planning of the new hospital facil­ ities, the building of which has finally started after many years of delay and frustration.

Una Murphy was held in the highest esteem by patients, their relatives and staff at all levels.

92 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD Disability Services

Services for people with disabilities were historically develop disability strategies in line with international provided in institutional settings. In 1981, the best practice. International Year of Disabled Persons had a profound effect in creating awareness about disability in Involving people with disabilities themselves and Ireland and putting disability on the human services their families was viewed as critical and part of an agenda. Rather than being seen as a personal or extensive and comprehensive consultation process. medical problem caused by disease, accidents or The SEHB set up a unique model of consumer other personal tragedies, it is now seen as a social involvement with the establishment of four Local issue whereby disability is caused by society's failure Area Committees for intellectual disability and four to adapt itself to the different ways in which those Local Area Committees for physical and sensory dis­ with disabilities accomplish activities. ability. The committee membership represents users and providers of services. These committees provide In 1996 the Report of the Commission on the Status information on the wide range of needs, gaps in of People with Disabilities - A Strategy for Equality services and priorities to the Regional Disability was published. The Commission's strategy involved Committee. The Regional Committee makes recom­ legislative solutions, proposals for new policy initia­ mendations on the allocation of resources based on tives and new structures for delivery of equality the needs identified by the local committees and the services within a framework of rights, not charity. strategic direction of the services. The Commission made consultation and participation their highest priority. The Commission developed a New locally based family support groups and service model of service, which places the. user of those providers flourished in the South East in the 90s, and services at the centre of the process of service a new wave of community involvement swept life delivery, from the planning stage right through to into local disability supports. Today, the South East implementation. Large accommodation services has a robust proliferation of Voluntary Sector and were required to downsize, and sheltered workshops State run services which offer a range of choices and be replaced by community-based employment. options to support people with disabilities to partici­ pate as a member of their chosen community. There The SEHB made a decision to focus strategically on are 28 intellectual disability agencies and 25 physical disability services and established the post of and sensory agencies ranging from multi-million Regional Disability Co-ordinator in 1997, Ann operations to locally based community groups. Kennelly was the first person appointed to this important post. The objective of the SEHB was to One of the key developments in planning disability consolidate the existing services and to plan and services was the introduction of a national Physical

93 4 - Mental Health Services and Services for Older People and People with Disabilities

and Sensory Disability Database. This was piloted in Joe Casey 2001 to assist in planning future services for people with disabilities. South Tipperary in the SEHB was one of the four areas selected to be a pilot site. The database is a series of information on people with a physical, hearing or visual disability who receive health or personal social services or who will require them within the next five years. In 2004 over 7,000 Joe Casey retired in July 2001 as Chief Nursing Officer of the people with intellectual, physical and sensory dis­ Wexford Mental Health Services, having served 27 years with abilities were listed on the disability database sets as the SEHB. receiving or requiring a range of specialist disability From Newtowncashel in County Longford, Joe trained as a services in the South East Region. The database Psychiatric Nurse in St. Loman's Hospital, Mullingar in the provides a foundation for policies and interventions 1950s and subsequently qualified as an Occupational that improve the lives of people with physical or Therapist. sensory disabilities. Throughout a career spanning 46 years, he worked in counties Westmeath, Mayo, Galway, Meath, Louth, Dublin, Wicklow Conclusion and took up the position of Chief Nursing Officer in Wexford From segregation to a good life,as part of the in 1974, becoming the first to hold the position. community, the journey towards full community inclusion for Irish citizens with disabilities spans a He set up the Wexford Mental Health Association Ltd. to pioneer social housing, training and rehabilitation in County century of radical change and remarkable progress. Wexford and brought the South Eastern Regional Post- Graduate Nurse Training Faculty of Nursing, Royal College of At the time of writing, Ireland has responded to the Surgeons, to St. Senan's Hospital. call for a legislative basis for the provision of services and moves to establish a rights based model through Over his 27 years as Chief Nursing Officer, Mr. Casey the implementation of a National Disability Strategy. promoted a positive attitude to Mental Health throughout the county of Wexford, striving for a better community service and a better quality of life for people with mental ill health.

Joe Casey is at present a member of the Mental Health Commission, the body with responsibility for implementing the new Mental Health Legislation. He is also a Director of Mental Health Ireland and Wexford Mental Health Association Ltd.

94 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD Hospital Facilities Across the Region

The number of patients peaked in 1939 at 550 and, at that time, the hospital was almost self-sufficient with supplies of meat, potatoes and vegetables from its own farm.

In the 1980s, the emphasis on Mental Health care changed from an institutional to a Community Care model and this has resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number of in-patients with the hospital caring for 90 patients in 2004.

A major development was the opening in March 2003 of a new 45-bed Department of Psychiatry at St. Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny catering for people St. Canice's Hospital, Kilkenny from Carlow and Kilkenny. The Kilkenny District Lunatic Asylum opened on 1st September 1852, when 54 patients were transferred from the Carlow Asylum. The hospital was designed by George Papworth and had accommodation for 150 people.

Dr. Joseph Lalor was the first Resident Physician and Manager. Joanna Ryan was Matron and the Clerk/Storekeeper was Wheeler O'Fflahertie. So great was the demand for accommodation that, within a few years of opening, the number of inpa­ tients exceeded the available beds. In 1856, the number of inpatients was 165 and, by the early St. Dympna's Hospital, Carlow 1900s, the numbers exceeded 500. This involved St. Dympna's Hospital, Carlow was built in 1831 to many extensions to the hospital and the purchase of accommodate 104 patients and initially catered for "Lacken House" in 1906, which was used as accom­ counties Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny and Wexford. The modation until the 1960s. hospital, which opened in 1832, was built to a design of Francis Johnson and his cousin and associate Hospital Facilities Across the Region

William Murray. Johnson had died in 1829 and Murray continued to serve as the asylum commis­ sioner's architect. Despite the building of separate asylums for Kilkenny (1852) and Wexford (1868), the numbers in St. Dympna's continued to expand and by 1896 had increased to 426.

Dr. Bertram Blake took up duty as Resident Medical Suprintendent in 1957 and during his time many sig­ nificant changes took place in St. Dympna's. The "open door" system came into operation, the high walls that surrounded the hospital and gave it a prison-like appearance came tumbling down.

St. Luke's Hospital, Clonmel Admissions to St. Dympna's from County Kildare St. Luke's Hospital, Clonmel was built in the years ceased, on 20th January, 1992. 1833/34, with a capacity of 60 beds. The architect was William Murray, 36 Eccles Street, Dublin and the Since the opening of the Department of Psychiatry in total cost was £16,587. In terms of overall accommo­ St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny in March 2003 there are dation, it was in fact the smallest asylum built in the now no direct admissions to St. Dympna's Hospital, entire country, and the only one with less than 100 Carlow. beds. The ongoing developments in community-based The first patients were admitted on 16th January Psychiatry have resulted in many patients availing of 1835. The demand for accommodation far out­ treatment on an outpatient basis. St. Dympna's stripped the available beds forcing the hospital Hospital now caters for 65 patients compared to 343 authorities to extend the original building. In 1862 when the SEHB assumed responsibility for the the Governors of the asylum acquired the House of hospital in April 1971. Industry at Upper Irishtown, Clonmel and it was used until 1933. In the early years it was operated as a separate asylum having its own Resident Medical Superintendent and staff. Clonmel, therefore, had the distinction of being the only town at that time with

96 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

two distinct asylums. Both asylums were amalga­ mated in 1871. During the 1930s, the famous Dr. Pat O'Callaghan, who won gold medals at the Amsterdam Olympics in 1928 and in Los Angeles in 1932, was on the staff of the hospital.

Considerable progress was achieved in St. Luke's since it came under the control of the SEHB including the building of a new 100 bed unit, which was opened in 1986.

In the 1950s, overcrowding was a major problem, culminating in the number of patients reaching a record high of 903 in September 1958. St. Otteran's Hospital, Waterford St. Otteran's Hospital, or the Waterford District Dr. Thomas Egan took up duty as Resident Medical Lunatic Asylum, as it was originally known, is Superintendent in December 1957 and his commit­ situated at John's Hill, Upper Grange, Waterford. The ment to the development of community services saw building, which opened in 1835 with accommoda­ the introduction of Outpatient Clinics in all towns in tion for 100, was based on a prototype design of the county. Dr. Egan also pioneered the community Francis Johnson who died in 1829. The architect for psychiatric nursing service when, in 1958, he the Waterford Asylum was Johnson's cousin and assigned Nurse Thomas Farrell to community duties. associate William Murray.

Ongoing development of the community services The term "lunatic asylum" was discontinued in 1921 and improved treatment methods led to a continued and the hospital became known as the Waterford reduction in bed numbers and, at 31st December District Mental Hospital. In 1951, on the suggestion 2003, the number of patients was 163. of the Resident Medical Superintendent, the name was changed to St. Otteran's Hospital. Agriculture The photograph above was taken in 1863 by Dr. was a feature of hospital life from an early stage and William Despard Hemphill, who was visiting the amount of land attached to the hospital increased Physician to the Clonmel Asylum for many years. Dr. from 25 acres in the 1830s to 373 acres in 1956. Hemphill was regarded as one of the finest and most Most of the land has now been disposed of and, in successful amateur photographers of his time.

97 Hospital Facilities Across the Region

2004, only 35 acres remained. The foundation stone for the hospital was laid on 1 st Increased demand for accommodation resulted in October 1863 but the building was not completed many extensions being added to the original building until 1868 and cost £40,000. The hospital opened on and, in 1956, the hospital accommodated 617 30th April 1868 when a number of Wexford patients patients. The number of patients had reduced to 116 were transferred from Carlow Asylum. Further on 31st December 2003 by virtue of a re-orientation transfers from Carlow took place on 2nd and 18th of the service with greater emphasis on short-time May, 1868 and, in all, a total of 75 patients were care which is provided in the modern 45-bed transferred. Department of Psychiatry at Waterford Regional Hospital and enhanced community services. The first Resident Medical Superintendent was Dr. Thos Wildridge Sheill and Robert Henderson was the Clerk/Storekeeper. The Matron was Emily Castles and a condition of her appointment was that she could not have more than three children resident in the house.

St. Senan's was originally built to accommodate 330 people but, in the mid-1950s, it had over 500 patients. Development of community based services has resulted in significant reductions in patient numbers and the hospital accommodated 156 St. Senan's Hospital, Enniscorthy patients, on the 31st December 2003. St. Senan's Hospital is situated on a hillside looking across the river Slaney towards Enniscorthy. It was the first brick built asylum in Ireland since the Belfast and Derry Asylums in the 1820s. The design con­ sultants for the hospital were James Barry Farrell and James Bell. Farrell was the County Surveyor and Bell was part of a Board of Works team, which had produced an abortive design for Enniscorthy, in 1856. The contractor was Mr. Patrick Kerr and Mr. Bergin was Clerk-of-Works.

98 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

and people with intellectual disabilities.

In 1951, the hospital was renamed St. Columba's Hospital and a decision taken that the hospital would be reserved for the care of the elderly only and that mi separate accommodation would be provided for the other units.

Since the SEHB assumed responsibility for the hospital in 1971 many improvements have taken place including: an Admission, Assessment, St. Columba's Hospital, Thomastown Rehabilitation Unit (1982); a 20-bed EMI Unit St. Columba's Hospital, Thomastown, was the former specially designed to cater for Alzheimer cases Workhouse for the Thomastown Poor Law Union. It (1992); and a new Day Care Centre catering for 25 was built to accommodate 600 people at a total cost people was officially opened in April 2002, by the of £7,465 and opened in 1853. Minister for Health and Children, Micheal Martin, T.D. The Sisters of St. John of God came to work as Nurses in the Thomastown Workhouse on 18th December St. Columba's has a capacity of 150 beds including a 1888, at the request of the Bishop of Ossory and the 20-bed Assessment/Rehabilitation Unit. first Sister in Charge was Sr. Augustine Doyle. The retirement in 2001 of Sr. Mary McElroy marked the end of the religious sisters within the Nursing depart­ ment of the hospital.

In November 1921, Kilkenny County Council decided that Thomastown Workhouse be selected as the County Home for Kilkenny and that the work­ houses at Urlingford and Callan be closed down and all patients transferred to Thomastown. St. John's Hospital, Enniscorthy St. John's Hospital, Enniscorthy was built by the The County Home catered for various people Enniscorthy Board of Guardians as a workhouse to including the elderly, unmarried mothers, children accommodate 600 people. The workhouse, which

99 Hospital Facilities Across the Region

cost £6,682 to build, was designed by George the contractors, Messrs. Rohcon commenced work in Wilkinson and opened on 11th November, 1842. September 2004. Phase 1 will cost in excess of €10 The Sisters of St. John of God took up duty in the million and will include extended care wards, workhouse in 1875 and continued to work in St. catering, supplies facilities, administration offices, an John's until April 2000. energy centre and a new access road.

When the workhouse system was abolished in 1922, St. John's Hospital was designated as the County Home for Wexford and, at that time, the hospital contained 300 beds. The existing buildings at St. John's Hospital are the old original County Home buildings and, despite many improvements over the past years, the hospital was not suitable for adapta­ tion to meet modern standards. Current accommo­ dation consists of 155 Continuing Care beds and 20 Assessment/Rehabilitation beds. St. Joseph's Hospital, Dungarvan St. Joseph's Hospital was built as a workhouse for the In April 1985 a draft brief for the replacement of St. Dungarvan Union to accommodate 600 people. It John's Hospital was submitted to the Department of cost £6,480 to build and £1,600 to furnish and Health but many years elapsed before approval was opened on the 4th July, 1844. During the famine received for the appointment of a design team to plan years, the workhouse was so overcrowded that at one the construction of a modern facility. In January stage it was described by the Poor Law Inspector as "a 1999, Dr. Tom Moffat, T.D., Minister of State at the mass of human suffering". Department visited the hospital and announced approval to the appointment of a design team for the The Sisters of Mercy took up duty in the Dungarvan project. Murray O'Laoire/Brian O'Connell Associates workhouse on 29th May 1873 as Infirmary Nurses. were subsequently engaged to design the new Three Sisters, Mary Jane Whelan, Mary Flanagan and hospital but, once more, a considerable length of Bridget Morrissey were each paid a salary of £20 per. time passed before the project finally reached con­ year and accommodation was provided for them struction stage. within the workhouse. On 12th September 1889, Sr. Dora Frances Whelan became the first Mercy Sister to In July 2004, the Board received approval to proceed be appointed Matron. This practice continued up to with Phase 1 of the St. John's Hospital project, and April 2001 when Sr. Mairead Foley retired! from the

100 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

post of Matron, after serving in the role for the as a workhouse for the Cashel Union in 1841 at a previous 20 years. When the workhouse system was cost of £6,700. It had accommodation for 700 people abolished in the early 1920s, Dungarvan Workhouse and opened on 28th January 1842. On the abolition was designated as the County Home for Waterford. of the Boards of Guardians in South Tipperary in February 1924, St. Patrick's was designated as the The replacement of the hospital with modern County Home for South Tipperary. Dr. George Henry purpose-built facilities for older people was on the Russell was appointed as Medical Officer and Sr. agenda for over 30 years but, alas, the planned Elizabeth Merrigan as Matron. Sr. Elizabeth was the replacement has not materialised. Many improve­ first Nursing Sister from the Mercy Order to be ment works have been completed in the existing appointed Matron of the Hospital. The Mercy Sisters building in recent years including: an arrived in Cashel on 28th August, 1877 when three Assessment/Rehabilitation Unit (1982); a new27-bed sisters took up residence in the hospital and their suc­ Nursing Unit (1998); a total renovation of St. Enda's cessors continued to reside in the hospital until Ward (2000); and an Alzheimer Unit (2003). February 2001. During their long association with St. Patrick's, four Matrons and in excess of 60 members In 2004, the hospital had a bed complement of 102 of the Mercy Order were employed on the staff. including 14 Assessment/Rehabilitation beds. At 1st April 1971, the hospital accommodated 347 people including chronic sick, elderly patients, people with intellectual disabilities, social cases and some children.

An Assessment/Rehabilitation unit was opened in the hospital in 1979 making St. Patrick's one of the first hospitals to develop an active approach to the care of the elderly. The unit, under the able direction of the late Dr. Willie Ryan, proved an outstanding success, playing an important role in restoring elderly people to independence and preventing long-term depend­ ency.

St. Patrick's Hospital, Cashel In recent years, parts of the old building have been St. Patrick's Hospital, Cashel, Co. Tipperary was built reconstructed and upgraded and there are currently

101 Hospital Facilities Across the Region

128 beds in the hospital including 21 Hospital Chapel on the occasion of the departure of Assessment/Rehabilitation beds. the Sisters of Mercy from their residence in St. Patrick's to their new home. When the workhouse system was abolished in the 1920s, St. Patrick's was designated as the County Hospital for Waterford. In 1959, it was decided to transfer the County Hospital service to Ardkeen Hospital and St. Patrick's was retained as an elderly care centre. In recent years, many improvement works have been carried out in the hospital including: a new 34-bed Unit officially opened by Dr. Rory O'Hanlon, T.D., Minister for Health in September 1990; refurbishment of a 30-bed Unit and a 27-bed Unit (1995); provision of new entrance/reception area, new day room and addition­ al respite/short-term rehabilitation beds.

St. Patrick's Hospital, Waterford In 204, the hospital had 102 Continuing Care beds St. Patrick's Hospital has had a chequered history and 20 Assessment/Rehabilitation beds. since it first opened as a Workhouse in Waterford City on 15th March 1841. Costing £7,850 (plus furnishing costs £1,577), the workhouse was built on a site of just over six acres on John's Hill and was designed to house 900 people. Within a few years of opening, the workhouse was overwhelmed by the Great Famine. In February 1848, the workhouse was said to be "crowded to suffocation. Sixty-four died during the last fortnight, they were dying like rotten sheep."

The Sisters of Mercy had a long and distinguished association with St. Patrick's Hospital beginning in 1883, when the Board of Guardians invited the Order The Sacred Heart Hospital, Carlow to appoint a sister as Matron of the hospital. In June The Sacred Heart Hospital was the first purpose-built 1990, a thanksgiving ceremony was held in the hospital for the elderly to be provided by the SEHB.

102 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

The design architects for the hospital were P. Rooney a week and a Day Hospital is in operation five days a and Associates, Dublin and the building contractors week, providing clinics and Out-Patient services. were Cleary and Doyle, Wexford. The construction of the new 102-bed hospital commenced in June The Friends of the Sacred Heart Hospital hold fund 1985 and was completed in July 1987. Funding raising events to provide additional comforts for the problems delayed the commissioning.of the hospital patients and their efforts are much appreciated. and it was officially opened by the Minister for Health, Dr. Rory O'Hanlon, T.D., on 25th April, 1988.

The hospital is located on the grounds of St. Dympna's Hospital and replaced the old Sacred Heart Home, which was situated in Barrack Street, Carlow. This was originally built as the workhouse for the Carlow Union in 1844 with accommodation for 800 people.

The Sisters of Mercy took up duty in the Carlow Workhouse in 1881 and continued to work in the care of older people in Carlow until 1999.

After closing, the hospital site was sold to Mr. J. O'Toole. Bethany House, a home for older people, New Houghton Hospital, New Ross was built on a portion of the former workhouse site in The New Houghton Hospital opened in 1984 in the the early 1970s. refurbished New Ross Fever Hospital, which had been built in 1936. Due to a continuing decline in The Sacred Heart Hospital now provides a compre­ the number of fever cases, part of the fever hospital hensive elderly care service including Extended Care, was converted for use as a long-stay elderly care Respite Care, Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, facility. Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy and Chiropody. The Old Houghton Hospital in New Ross was run by the Sisters of St. John of God since the 1870s but, in A Day Care Centre with ten places is open four days 1984, it was forced to close due to financial

103 Hospital Facilities Across the Region

problems. Also, the building was considered a fire John of God House was catering for 22 children. By hazard. Extensive renovations were carried out on 1979, 31 children were using the service on a the fever hospital and it re-opened as an extended Monday to Friday basis. care hospital containing 66 beds. It was re-named the New Houghton Hospital. The early 1980s brought about a move from larger to smaller community-based residences and, in 1983, Summerhill House, Enniscorthy was opened. Further community homes have since been developed - Florence House, Enniscorthy; Dawn House in Wexford Town and Riverdale, Ferrycarrig, Wexford.

At present, the Wexford Residential Service for people with intellectual disability caters for 48 users on a seven day/52 week basis and a day care service is also provided. The service now encourages full participation in community living with more individ­ ualised and person-centred care for the residents.

St. John of God House, Enniscorthy Sr. Ephram McGrath, now Sr. Florence, and the late St. John of God House, Enniscorthy, was the first res­ Fr. Tony Scallon, who spearheaded the establishment idential accommodation for children with intellectu­ of the service, deserve the highest praise for how it al disabilities, opened by the SEHB. has developed to date. In 1973, 11 Nursing and nine Non-Nursing staff were employed in the service. In The official opening was performed by An Tanaiste 2004, this had increased to 48 Nursing and 30 Non- and Minister for Health, Mr. Erskine Childers, T.D. on Nursing staff. 13th March 1972 and the occasion was availed of to make a special presentation to the Mother-General of the Order of St. John of God to mark the centenary of the Order.

When the service commenced on 28th December 1971, it catered for nine children with severe to profound intellectual disability and one year later St.

104 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

sitting room. The service also provides two places for people who may need respite care, offering short- term overnight/weekend accommodation.

Also supporting the service is a small group of volun­ teers and relatives known as "The Friends of Damien House Association".

Damien House, Clonmel Damien House was built on the grounds of St. Luke's Hospital, Clonmel, in the early 1900s as a small separate unit to cater for tuberculosis which was very prevalent at that time. Damien House was located on Cluain Arann, Tipperary. an elevated site, west of the Clenconnor Road and catered for male patients. A similar type building, Homes for the Elderly (Welfare Homes) now known as Edel Quinn House, was erected on In October 1965, the Minister for Health, Mr. hospital land east of the Glenconnor Road at the Donagh O'Malley appointed a Committee to report same time, to cater for female patients. Both on the care of the aged. The Committee presented its buildings cost £2,938 and the contractor was a Mr. report to the new Minister, Mr. Sean Flanagan, T.D., Holloway from Cahir, who handed over the in November 1968 and one of the recommendations completed buildings to the hospital, in December was the establishment of Welfare Homes to cater for 1908. elderly persons, not in need of continuous medical or nursing care, but unable to live at home for various In 1995 the Unit was upgraded and converted for use reasons. as a home for people with intellectual disabilities. The Unit accommodates eight people, all of whom The Committee recommended that the homes should not be large - suggesting around 30 to 40 places as have their own bedroom. The residents, both male the preferred size. The homes should be located and female, have a communal dining room and reasonably convenient to the persons they were Hospital Facilities Across the Region |

intended to serve in order to keep the residents in the In 2003, a new 10-bed nursing unit costing £800,000 main stream of life and should be near to shops and was built at Cluain Arann and a major upgrading of the existing home was undertaken. churches.

Standard-type plans for the homes were produced by Marian Court, Clonmel, which is owned by the the Department of Health and this resulted in an Board, is run by a local management committee, on acceleration of the planning process. In the early which the Board is represented. Marian Court is years of the Board, new welfare homes were among designed as a sheltered housing type complex con­ the first capital projects to be completed. taining 24 single and five double apartments.

Bethany House, Carlow was built on part of the site Marian Court is situated at Morton Street, Clonmel of the old workhouse and was officially opened in and the siting of the home was the subject of a major February 1974 by An Tanaiste and Minister for controversy between the Health Board and tne Health, Mr. Brendan Corish. The first residents were Department of Health in the 1970s. Two sites were welcomed on 7th January, 1974. available for the home one at Gallows Hill and the Morton Street site, which was owned by the Sisters ot Dunabbey House, Dungarvan, which is located Charity. The Sisters came to Clonmel in the 1840s opposite St. Joseph's Hospital, was built in 1974 on a and took charge of a new school in Morton Street. An site acquired from Dungarvan Urban District orphanage was added in 1876. In the early 1930s, Council. The official opening was also performed by the Sisters closed the orphanage and turned it into a Mr. Corish in November 1974. Domestic Science College known as St. Michael s. The college closed in 1973 and the Sisters of Charity Cluain Arann Home for older people, Tipperary was offered the site to the Board. The provision of the

built some years later, mainly due to difficulties in home on the site would involve the demolition of the obtaining a suitable site. The site on which the home school of domestic science. is now built was purchased from Tipperary Urban District Council for £7,500,00 in 1974. Delaney, The additional cost of developing the Morton Street McVeigh and Pike were appointed Architects for the site compared to the Gallows Hill site was £13,90a project and the building contractor was J. Harrington Morton Street was more central and the Sisters would and Son, Fethard. The overall cost of the home was be associated with the running of the Home, but this £292 826 and the first residents took up occupation would not be possible on the other site. The Health in October 1979. Board'the local Health Committee and a consider­ able body of public opinion in Clonmel, all favoured

106 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

the Morton Street site. Local Health Committee, the Clonmel Corporation, local/voluntary bodies, the Sisters of Charity and The Minister for Health, Mr. Brendan Corish did not local clergy. The Minister was represented by two agree and informed the Board that: senior officers of his Department. Following a meeting of three hours, it was agreed to ask the "After the fullest consideration of the various issues Minister to again reconsider his decision and to site involved, he has decided that a Home on the the Home at Morton Street. Gallow's Hill site would better meet the requirements and concepts of such a Home." He also stated that Finally, a Referendum held in the town, initiated and he did not consider that the entire costs in providing organised by the Clonmel Corporation, voted by over the Home on the Morton Street site could be justified. 70% in favour of the Morton Street site. The Minister's decision was debated at the July 1974 meeting of the Health Board and the Board unani­ The Minister, however, was not for turning and in mously decided to request a meeting with the June 1975 he wrote to the Chairman of the Board Minister. A Board deputation met the Minister in confirming his decision on the siting of the Home at October 1974 but, despite many reminders to the Gallow's Hill, Clonmel. Department, no early response was received. Finally, in a letter dated 11th February, 1975, the Minister This matter took a new turn in July 1975 when the informed the Board that the Home should be sited at Sisters of Charity made an offer to meet the difference Callow's Hill. in cost of the two developments. The Minister finally relented but it was not until September 1976 that The Minister's response led to an angry debate at the Department approval was received to acquire the site February meeting of the Board a many members from the Sisters of Charity. In their letter of approval, questioned their role. the Department stated that they "were not in a position yet to indicate when further steps in the The Board decided unanimously to refer the matter project can be authorised." back to the Minister for re-consideration. No immediate response was received from the Minister. Delays in approvals to the various planning stages On the 5th March, 1975 a public meeting to discuss from the Department of Health and some difficulties the controversy was called by the Mayor of Clonmel, regarding the title of the Morton Street site slowed Aid. Sean Lyons, who chaired the meeting. The down progress and the building was not completed Chairman and CEO represented the Board and an until 1983. The first residents were admitted in attendance of over 400 included members of the September 1983 and the official opening was

107 Hospital Facilities Across the Region

performed in May 1984 by Alderman Joe Cummins, The Home was called Marian Court. The Architect Chairman of the SEHB who opened his speech saying for the project was Joe Anthony, Carrick-on-Suir and "This Home had many difficulties both at its concep­ the main contractor was William Lynch, Clonmel. tion and birth but it survived so well that its prospects are now great for a long life ahead."

i:

u -M

jJ-

Farm and maintenance staff St. Lukes Hospital, Clonmel, 1984. Front: C. Kelly, M. Kelly, J. Hillery, P. Cahill. Back: P. Connolly, P. Cahill, T. Norris, M. Fitzgerald, J. Daly, T. Quinnivan, E. O'Brien, J. Ahearn, J. Flaherty, D. Walsh.

108 v*f'i M Jill: AAd

THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD CHAPTER V - Central and Other Services

In addition to the care groups already discussed, there were a number of departments which were In November 1987, Vincent Millett took a career central to the overall provision of health services over break and joined the Irish Health Services the past three decades. These included: Finance, Development Corporation, a body to promote health Human Resources, Public Health, Information services in developing countries. In May 1988, both Systems, Technical Services and Capital Projects, and he and Paddy Ward availed of the Government's Early Communications. Retirement Scheme. Permanent appointments to the vacant posts were not made until September 1989 The Directors of all these departments were repre­ when Martin Hynes and Matt Lynch took up duty. sented on the Management Team in addition to the Martin Hynes worked with the Board in all three pro­ Regional Managers of the care programmes. grammes until June 1998, when he resigned on promotion as CEO of the Blood Transfusion Services The overall management of the care programmes was Board. When John Cooney became CEO in 1992, he carried out centrally, each under a Programme was replaced as Programme Manager by Pat Manager. The first Programme Manager to take up McLoughlin, who had been Personnel Officer. duty with the newly established Board was Dr. Val Barry in August 1971 and he was assigned to the In recent years, the Programme Manager post was re- Community Care Programme. In September 1971, titled Regional Manager, and post holders have George Bourke was appointed and he managed both included Tom Beegan, now CEO.of the Health and hospital programmes, until Paddy Ward joined the Safety Authority, Peter Finnegan, John Magner, Board, in May 1972. Richard Dooley and Tom Byrne.

George Bourke resigned in August 1976 to take up a Finance post in the private sector and, the following April, Dr. The Health Act 1970 set out the general accountancy Val Barry moved to the Eastern Health Board. and budgeting procedures for Health Boards. Vincent Millett, who was the Board's Finance Officer, and John Furey were appointed to the vacant posts. When the SEHB was established, a significant portion Mr. Furey left the Board's service in May 1981 and of the Board's expenditure was met from local rates as was replaced by John Cooney, who had been Finance will be seen from the Final Accounts for the year Officer. There was a degree of stability in the 1971/72: Programme Manager posts for the following six years, a time of unprecedented cutbacks in the health Gross expenditure £10.332m services. (of which £6.85m related to all hospital services) 5 - Central and Other Services

Cross income £ 10.503m out completely the local rates contribution from (of which £4.513 came from local authorities and 1976. £5.901 m came from government grants) Finian Mongey was the first Finance Officer taking up Prior to the establishment of a separate Department duty on 1 st April, 1971. He resigned in August 1971 of Health in 1947, the health service was primarily and was succeeded by Vincent Millett in April 1972. funded from local rates with state grants meeting only When Mr. Millett was promoted as Programme 16% of the cost at that time. From 1947 onwards, the Manager in 1976, John Cooney became Finance state agreed to meet increased costs of the health Officer and he was succeeded by Eugene Halley in services until the total costs were divided^equally 1981. Mr. Halley retired from the post in November between local rates and the exchequer. The division 2004 having served for 23 years, the longest serving of costs was achieved in 1953 and, thereafter, an Finance Officer in the Health Board service in the increasing proportion of the costs was borne by the country. State. In the 1990s, more stringent measures of financial Following the establishment of the Board, the propor­ control and accountability were introduced. The tion of expenditure contributed by the local authori­ CA&G Amendment Act 1993 resulted in the audit of ties decreased and, in February 1974, the Board was the Board's accounts being transferred to the CA&G advised that the government had decided to phase Office. In addition, the Health (Amendment) (No. 3)

1973 1993 2003 €m €m €m Revenue Expenditure General Hospitals 3.886 (25.77)* 81.866(38.42) 276.127(37.11) Special Hospitals 4.625 (30.67) 52.088(24.45) 125.626(16.88) Community Care 3.454 (22.91) 51.429(24.14) 260.781(35.04) External Hospitals/Homes 1.896 (12.57) 1.882(0.88) 1.056(0.14) Ambulance & Transport 0.213 (1.41) 4.333(2.03) 14.355(1.93) Superannuation 0.249 (1.65) 11.622(5.46) 31.982(4.3) Other 0.757 (5.02) 9.850(4.62) 34.218(4.6) Total 15.080 213.070 744.145 * Italics denote percentages of total. 110 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

Act 1996 strengthened arrangements governing Tony Whelan acted as Personnel Officer prior to the financial accountability and clarified the respective arrival of Pat McLoughlin in May 1989. Pat was sub­ roles of the Board and the CEO, and improved organ­ sequently appointed Programme Manager for isational and management arrangements. General Hospitals in 1992. Tony Whelan served as acting Personnel Officer following Pat McLoughlin's There were significant changes in the levels of expen­ promotion and he was succeeded by John Magner diture between 1973 and 2003. who was appointed permanently in 1995.

On Mr. Magner's appointment as Programme Manager in October 1998, Vivienne Tegg was

Pictured at the SEHB Regional Partnership Conference in 2002 are members of the Regional Partnership Committee, front: Margo Flavin, Kathryn Henrich, David Clancy, Dr. lack Gallagher, Chairman, SEHB, Vivienne Tegg and Jeanne Pictured to mark WRH and WIT International Nurse Education Hendrick. Back: Derek Doyle, Ann Nee, Partnership Facilitator, Partnership in 1998 were, back row: Jarlath McKenna, Co­ Paddy Burke, Tony Whelan, Ben Crogan, John Cahan and ordinator of Nursing Studies; John Magner, Programme Seamus Moore. Manager, Special Hospitals, SEHB; Vivienne Tegg, A/Personnel Officer; Tom Beegan, Deputy CEO, SEHB; Dr. Eric Martin, Human Resources Head of the School of Science, WIT. Front: Bernard Finnegan, Up to 2001, the Human Resource Department was Director of Nursing, Wexford General Hospital; Breda known as the Personnel Department. John Quinn O'Regan, Theatre Sister, Waterford Regional Hospital; Paula Lane, Senior Staff Nurse, Coronary Care, Waterford Regional was the first Personnel Officer, taking up duty in Hospital; Anna Marie Lanigan, A/Primary Care Unit Manager January 1972. On Mr. Quinn's retirement in 1988 and Tony Reid, Clinical Placement Co-Ordinator, SEHB.

111 5 - Central and Other Services

appointed Personnel Officer and, subsequently, Director of Human Resources.

The Health Board was the largest employer in the South East region. In 2004, there were approximate­ ly 11,000 people on the payroll of the Board, filling 8,600 whole-time equivalent posts distributed over 200 different grades.

The Human Resources Department encompassed a number of services including Employee Relations, Personnel Policy and Administration, Recruitment, The Communicable Disease Function in the Public Health Training, Education and Development, Health and Department of the South Eastern Health Board successfully Safety, Occupational Health Services, implemented the ISO 9001:2000 quality management system Superannuation, Nursing and Midwifery Planning for the surveillance and communication of communicable and Development Unit and Library services. disease notifications to guide control and prevention. Pictured at the award ceremony are from left to right: Department of Public Health Dr Orlaith O'Reilly, Director of Public Health, Bernie The Department of Public Health was established in O'Doherty, Assistant Staff Officer, Bridget Rowe, Clerical 1995 and was based in the Board's Head Office. The Officer, Dr Marrita Mahon, Surveillance Scientist Dr Maire O'Connor, Specialist Public Health Medicine (HSE- Eastern Department, under the direction of the Director of Region) Dr Ann Marie O'Byrne, Specialist Public Health Public Health, was supported by a team of Public Medicine, Dr Patricia Prendiville, Acting Specialist Public Health Specialists and administrative staff. The first, Health Medicine, Bernie O'Connor, Surveillance Scientist and only Director, was Dr. Orlaith O'Reilly, who was Pamela Brennan, Clerical Officer, Jim Harding, PRO NSAI, Dr appointed in 1995. The aim of the Public Health Neville DeSouza, Specialist Public Health Medicine Department is to improve the health of the popula­ (2000-2005), guidelines issued by the National tion of the South East, through work with other health Disease Surveillance Centre and the Programme of services staff, relevant agencies and the public them­ Action for Children. The Director of Public Health selves. compiled a report each year on the health of the people of the South East which identified health The Department's work was guided by national strate­ issues in the population. gies, such as the Cardiovascular Strategy, Cancer Strategy, the National Health Promotion Strategy

112 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

Since its establishment, the Department undertook a number of important projects including:

• Completion of comprehensive needs assessment for Palliative Care in the region • Strengthening capacity and plans for Public Health emergency responses • A review of the clinical winter pressures in Waterford Regional Hospital • A needs assessment study for children with Autism • A joint study with clinicians on the prevalence and management of Chronic Pulmonary Disease Bill McCallig (third from left), who retired from the IT • An on-going study with clinicians on the quality of Department in 2004, pictured with his colleagues: Car Reidy, trauma care in the region Garrett O'Gorman, Pat Morrison, Seamus Butler, Martin • An audit with GPs on Diabetic care Bridgeman, Patsi Lynch, Martin Whelan, Maria Walsh, Margaret Kehoe, Terri Hackney and Harold D'Cruz. • Continuing work on the control of infectious diseases, including liaison with the Food Safety Cooney, who later became CEO. When the Data Authority of Ireland Processing Section was established it had three other • The development and implementation of the staff - Patricia Lynch, Ann Fitzpatrick and Sean National Influenza Vaccination Campaign. Lanigan. Computer processing in those days entailed paper records being supplied to the Data Processing Information Systems Section where the information was input to computer The Management Services Department (now via punched cards and the output was exclusively on Information Systems) was originally known as the computer printouts. Data Processing Section and was part of the Finance Department. In 1972, the Board established its own John Cooney became Management Accountant in Data Processing section, a brave decision at the time, 1974 and was replaced by Sean Comerford who as all but one of the other newly established Boards came from the Eastern Health Board. Throughout the chose to purchase data processing services from a 1970s, the range of computer programmes in use was bureau in Dublin. extended, but virtually all were concerned with pro­ cessing of data for the Finance Department. By the The Data Processing Officer was the head of the end of the 1970s, a new ICL computer had been Section and the first holder of this position was John purchased, punched cards were replaced by direct

113| 5 - Central and Other Services

entry to magnetic disk and a full range of systems was in place, including a major new payroll system, The 1990s saw the introduction of office systems Unipay, which went live for the introduction of the such as word processing, electronic spreadsheets and PRSI scheme in April 1979. e-mail. The Internet had arrived and personal computers were installed across the Board. What The 1980s saw a significant expansion in the Data started out in the 1970s as one computer grew to Processing Section and the first major development about 2,000 computers by the end of the 1990s was a Patient Administration System for Wexford across scores of locations that were all interconnect­ County Hospital. This was the first online system that ed via a communications network which, in turn, was the Board introduced and, when it went live on 1st linked to the Internet. New systems were imple­ January 1982, Wexford was ahead of most hospitals mented for many different services such as Pathology in the country in introducing such a system. The laboratories, Radiology departments, Pharmacies, system was subsequently implemented in all the Supplies departments and Community Care schemes. Board's Acute Hospitals. Other new IT systems implemented in the 1980s included the Staff Records Dealing with the millennium bug at the end of the System and the Community Care suite, comprising decade was a huge challenge as it involved an Medical Cards and Child Health Records. extensive checking process and the upgrade of very many systems. By 2000, the IT Department In the mid-1980s, the Data Processing Section was employed 40 staff. established as a separate entity outside Finance, called the Management Services Department, The early years of the new millennium were reporting directly to the CEO. The then Management dominated by work on the changeover to the Euro, Services Officer, Sean Comerford, joined the which came into effect in January 2002. Major Management Team reflecting the growing importance projects were commenced to procure new Hospital of information systems. Unfortunately, Sean's time in and Financial Information Systems and the SEHB led that role was short-lived as he died in December multi-Health Board projects that went on to become 1986 and was succeeded by Seamus Butler, the full national projects. The pioneering IT spirit that present Director of Information Systems. was evident in the Board from its inception was still evident at the end. At the start of the 1980s, the PC still hadn't been invented. By the end of the 1980s, there were One staff member has the unique privilege of serving hundreds of computer terminals distributed across in the IT Department from the beginning, Patricia hospital and community care services. (Patsi) Lynch, started as a Clerical Officer in March

114 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

1972. Her most recent post was IT Operations Manager.

Technical Services and Capital Projects The Technical Services and Capital Projects Department worked with the Board's management to ensure the satisfactory physical maintenance and development of all the Board's buildings. The depart­ ment also provided the professional technical advice and project management on the Capital Investment Programme and managed a design office, which provided the professional services for the design, Pictured at the Contract Signing for Phase 1 of the St. John's project management and implementation of minor Hospital, Enniscorthy, development in 2004 were, seated: Brian capital projects. Fitzpatrick, Finance Director, Rohcon Ltd.; Jerry O'Sullivan, Director, Rohcon; Pat McLoughlin, CEO, SEHB; Una Murphy, Other services provided included energy manage­ Director of Nursing, St. John's Hospital. Back: George O'Neill, ment conservation and advice service, fire safety Project Officer, SEHB; Peter Ryan, Director of Capital Projects advice and fire safety training to staff, and expert and Technical Services; Mary Kerr, Project Officer, SEHB; Linda advice and guidance to the Board on the disposal and O'Leary, Deputy Hospital Manager, St. John's Hospital; Theresa Redmond, Assistant Director of Nursing, St. John's Hospital and procurement of property. Eugene Halley, Director of Finance, SEHB.

The first Technical Services Officer was Joe Casey and largest Acute Hospital development in Ireland at that he played a lead role in the building of the Board's time. Other major capital projects in which Mr. Headquarters at Lacken, Kilkenny, which was Byrne had a lead role included South Tipperary completed in 1985. General Hospital, Clonmel and Community Care Headquarters in Waterford. Peter Ryan joined the Mr. Casey departed to his native Cork, as Technical Board in 1987 as Chief Assistant Technical Services Services Officer with the Southern Health Board, in Officer and had a lead role in the capital develop­ December 1985 and he was succeeded by Tom ments at Wexford General Hospital, St. Luke's Byrne, who took up duty in March 1986. Under the General Hospital, Kilkenny and Community Care stewardship of Tom Byrne, the construction of Headquarters in Kilkenny. Waterford Regional Hospital was commenced in 1987 and completed in 1994. This represented the

115 5 - Central and Other Services

Simultaneous with all of these capital developments, communications to the Health Board's managers and a large range of projects was designed in-house and, staff. The Communications Department was involved in this regard, Colm Walsh, Architectural Technician in highlighting many public health issues including and Donal Deering, Engineering Staff deserve special immunization campaigns, meningitis awareness, dis­ mention. ability services, drugs awareness and health promotion campaigns. Mr. Walsh was the longest serving officer of the department, having commenced in 1972 with a base The Department was expanded in 2000/2001 with at St. Patrick's Hospital, Waterford. In 1987 he trans­ the appointment of Deirdre Dunne, Communications ferred to Headquarters and worked in the Regional Assistant and Fiachra O'Ceilleachair, who was Drawing Office until his retirement in 2002. In these appointed Irish Language Development Officer - the years of financial constraint, there was a significant first such post in Irish Health Boards. The post was a reliance on in-house cost effective design solutions in joint initiative with Foras na Gaeilge and assisted the order to enable changes to the physical health care Board in preparing for the Official Languages Act. infrastructure for the effective delivery of essential Other staff who worked in the Communications health services. Department included Catherine Donohoe, Sandra Kehoe, Juanita Cuidera and Nurah Treacy. With the launch of the National Development Plan in 2000, Tom Byrne was appointed Director of Capital Media training, based on the Board's media guide­ Projects and Peter Ryan was appointed Technical lines, was provided for staff likely to receive media Services Officer. Following the promotion of Tom interview requests. The department dealt with press Byrne as Regional Manager for Mental Health and calls from local, regional and national journalists and Older Persons in July 2002, the Technical Services provided communications and public relations and Capital Projects Departments were merged under support to national and regional conferences, the direction of Peter Ryan. launches and openings held within the South East.

Communications A wide range of patient and staff information was The Communications Department was established in published through the Communications Department, 1997 and the first Communications Manager was including the Annual Report, residential childcare Audrey Lambourn, who previously had over ten years booklets, drug awareness leaflets and the Health experience in local authority and health services Board magazine 'Across the Board'. Communications settings in the UK. The Communications Department services provided also included intranet, e-mail, provided public relations expertise and advice on Communications strategies and protocols, media

116 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

relations, internet, advertising, print management, crises communications, event management, corporate identity/branding and media monitoring.

Corporate Services A number of other support and strategic services have been developed at Corporate level to work closely with relevant Regional Managers and the Management Team, to ensure key strategic services are maintained and continuously improved. The areas span all of the care groups and administrative areas and would include offices such as Freedom of Pictured in 2004 at the launch of 'We're Listening to You', the Information, Regional Appeals and Complaints, Risk policy on listening to service users' views in the SEHB area, Management, Internal Audit, Quality and were: Jennifer Graham, Regional Appeals and Complaints Accreditation, Planning and Evaluation and the CEO Office; Sandra Kehoe, Communications Department; Pat McLoughlin, CEO, SEHB; Emily O'Reilly, Ombudsman; Greg Secretariat. Price, Regional Appeals, Complaints and Information Officer; luanita Guidera, Steering Committee and Norann Phelan, Waterford Regional Hospital.

117

THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD CHAPTER VI - Board Membership

Presentation by Board Members to Peter McQuillan to mark his retirement as CEO of the SEHB in 1992, front row: M. Fitzpatrick; T. Hanrahan; B. McQuillan; P. McQuillan; C. O'Halloran; M. Doyle; J. Redmond; D. Bolger. Middle: P. McLoughlin; M. Lynch; I. Cooney; B. Hynes; j. Coonan; C. Donovan; P. Farrell; L. Carthy; P. Hogan; M. Sinnott; M. Deering; M. Hynes; M. Meaney. Back: P. Finnegan; S. Butler; E. Halley; j. Morrison; J. Murnane; J. Crowe; H. Quinlan and ). Murphy.

From 1970 up to June 2004, 116 people served as The first Chairman was Tom Hassett, a Pharmacist members of the South Eastern Health Board, of whom from Wexford, who was elected at the meeting of the 15 were women. Board held in the County Hall, Wexford on 3rd December 1970. Mr. Hassett was re-elected The Board consisted of 31 members with 16 from the Chairman for the following year and thus became local authorities in the South-East region nominated one of only two people to hold the Chairman's seat after every local election. The professional represen- twice during the lifetime of the Board. The other tatives were elected every five years at a different time person was the late Michael Ferris of South Tipperary, to the public representatives. The three nominees of who was elected Chairman in December 1974 and the Minister for Health and Children were appointed again in December 1978. simultaneously with the professional representatives. Thirty-two people have held the position of 6 - Board Membership

Chairperson since 1970, including two women. The longest serving member of the Board was Con Kathleen Brady-O'Neill of Carlow was elected in Donovan from Ballyporeen, Co. Tipperary, who was December 1980 and she was succeeded the nominated to the Board, when it was established in following year by Deirdre Bolger of Wexford. The 1970. He served continuously until he retired from position was dominated by representatives of the public life in June 1999. Mr. Donovan was also the political parties, who have held the position on 23 longest serving member of South Tipperary County occasions. Council having a total of 39 years service. He was the first Chairman of the South Tipperary Local Health The Medical profession have been represented by 34 Committee and a member of the Committee during people on the Board and five Doctors have been its lifetime, from June 1972 until it was abolished in elected to the Chair, excluding the last Chairman, Dr. December 1987. Sean McCarthy who was a nominated public repre­ sentative of South Tipperary County Council. Dr. He was involved in politics from an early age and McCarthy also served on the Board as a Ministerial was elected to South Tipperary County Council at his nominee. first attempt in June 1960. Twenty-nine years later, in July 1989, he was elected Chairman of the Council Two Pharmacists held the position of Chairman and and, in December of the same year, he was elected both were from County Wexford. Tom Hassett, the Chairman of the Health Board. first Chairman, and Sam McCauley, a well known name today in the pharmaceutical business. Deirdre Bolger was the longest serving woman on the Board. She was nominated to represent Wexford Eleven Ministerial nominees served on the Board and County Council in June 1979 and served continuous­ two of the group were elected to the Chair. John ly until the Board was abolished in June 2004. Murphy of Wexford and Jackie Fahey of Waterford. Originally from-Dublin but living in Gorey for many Three of the nominees were women, including Sr. years, she always had a keen interest in politics and Stanislaus, a well- known advocate for the poorer was elected Chairman of the Board in December sections of society, who was a member of the first 1981. She was a member of Wexford County Board in 1970. Council, the South East Regional Authority and the Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly. She retired Public Representatives from public life prior to the Local Elections in 2004. Fifty-five people have served on the fBoard as public representatives, five of whom were women. Two public representatives who were members of the first Board in 1970 had the honour of being elected

120 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

to the position of Ceann Comhairle, Dai I Eireann. cheque amounted to £3.23. Sean Treacy, T.D. for South Tipperary resigned from the Board in May 1973 on his election as Ceann The Staff Officer was Tom Boyle and he explained Comhairle, a post he held until 1977. Mr. Treacy what my duties entailed. I was to be the Clerical served again as Ceann Comhairle from 1987 to 1997, Officer to the new BCG Unit which was when he was succeeded by Seamus Rattison, T.D. established to combatTB infection, which was still rampant in those years. Responsibility for matters Mr. Pattison was a member of the Health Board from relating to the Health Service rested with the 1970 until June 1984, when he resigned on his County Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kathleen appointment as Minister of State at the Department of McColgan Barry, under the overall control of the Social Welfare. In his early days, Mr. Pattison worked County Manager. as a Clerical Officer in the Health Section of Kilkenny County Council when the Council was responsible My career as an employee of the County Council for the Health Service. was short-lived. In the summer of 1957, the then government found it necessary to implement a In an article on the History of Kilkenny County major economy drive in all public services and Council, he recalled his brief career in the Health temporary positions were the first victims of the Service: cutbacks. The prospect of any permanent post arising also disappeared and, as a result, my "My first relationship began in 1955 when I sat the expectation of a lifetime job in the County Council examination for a position of Clerical Officer with suddenly came to an end." the Council. I was successful in that examination and was placed on a panel which would be used Only one sitting member of the Board was appointed for any vacancies which arose in the following two to a full Ministerial post. Austin Deasy, a representa­ years. Very early in 1956, I was offered a tive of Waterford County Council after the 1979 local temporary vacancy as a Clerical Officer. elections, resigned from the Board in April 1983 following his appointment as Minister for Agriculture. I took up the position on Monday, 23rd January, 1956 when I signed the Attendance Book at the Tom Nolan, T.D., who represented Carlow on the County Clinic, Lower Patrick Street, Kilkenny. At Board in the 1970s, was Minister of State at the that time we worked a five and half-day week, Department of Health and Social Welfare and, subse­ 10.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., Monday to Friday, and quently, held the office of Minister for Labour. 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. on Saturdays. My weekly

121 6 - Board Membership

Other Board Members who held government Health Nurse from Kilkenny who was a Board positions at junior ministerial level included Liam member from 1977 to 1987. Aylward, Dr. Sean McCarthy, Jackie Fahey, Seamus Pattison and Phil Hogan. Pharmacists Only three Pharmacists were members of the Board Psychiatric Nurses and Tom Hassett, who served for 12 years, was The first Psychiatric Nurse to become a member of Chairman for the first two years of the Board. Percy the Board was Patrick Quigley, St. Luke's Hospital, Delany represented the Pharmacists from 1987 to Clonmel, who was appointed in October 1970. In 2004 replacing Sam McCauley who resigned in total, five Psychiatric Nurses have been Board 1987, in protest at the unprecedented cuts in health members and John Coonan of St. Canice's Hospital, expenditure. Kilkenny was the longest serving member, having been on the Board from 1987 to 2004. Dentists The Dental profession was represented by three General Nurses people and one of their representatives, Dr. Bernie The General Nursing profession was represented by Hynes from Carrick-on-Suir, was elected Chairman in six different people. Their longest serving representa­ 1993. tive was Bridget Butler, a Superintendent Public

Group photographed on the occasion of a visit by Dr. M. Woods, Minister for Health to St. Joseph's and St. Luke's Hospital Clonmel, April 1981. Front Row: Dr. T. Prendiville, Co. Physician; Mrs. M. O'Leary, A.C.N.O.; Mrs. A. O'Halloran, A.C.N.O.; Dr. Michael Woods, Minister for Health and Social Welfare; Sr. M. Annunciata, Matron, St. Joseph's Hospital; Alderman C. Acheson, Mayor of Clonmel; Dr. P. A. Meehan, Chief Psychiatrist. Back Row: Mr. P. T. Ward, Programme Manager; Dr. J. P. Morrison, Senior Psychiatrist; D. McCauley, Chief Nursing Officer; P. O'Leary, Assistant Matron, St. Joseph's Hospital; Mr. P. G. McQuillan, Chief Executive Officer; Dr. B. Hensey, Secretary, Department of Health.

122 Board Chairpersons 1971 - 2004 (The annual 'garjk election of chair person was held every December).

T.F.Hassett - 1970/71 J.J.Bowe - 1972 M.Kehoe - 1973 Senator M. Ferris-1974/78

Dr. H. O'Brien Moran -1975 C. Curran - 1976 J. Murphy - 1977 Aid. M. Mc Guinness - 1979 K. Brady O'Neill - 1980

"V OH

Deirdre Bolger - 1981 James Murphy - 1982 Aid. J. Cummins - 1983 S. McCauley - 1984 M. Sinnott - 1985 6 - Board Membership

Liam Aylward - 1986 Jack Crowe - 1987 C. Donovan - 1989 M. O'Brien - 1990 G. O'Halloran - 1991

Cllr. Power - 1993 Tom Ambrose - 1995 M. Deering - 1996 F. Gallagher - 1997

M. Meaney - 1998 Jackie Fahey - 1999 Aid. Quinlan - 2000 Dr. J Gallagher - 2001 Seamus Ryan - 2002 S. McCarthy - 2003 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

In the meantime, Jo continued to act as Secretary to the Board, attending monthly Board meetings, known to everyone throughout the region. She was the longest- serving Health Board Secretary in the history of the Irish Health Boards.

After attending school in Gorey Co Wexford, Jo started her career in the health services in 1958 in Ardkeen Hospital, then a sanitarium with 300 TB beds, where she acted as secretary to the Medical Superintendent, Dr Fintan Corrigan. After 45 years in the health service she officially retired in 2003 to devote a little more time Jo Redmond to bridge and to swimming. Jo Redmond was the first person recruited by Peter McQuillan to work in the South Eastern Health Board. She commenced her work with the Board in temporary offices in Kilcreene on 1st February 1971, two months before the official start-date.

As someone who was afterwards to have many respon­ sibilities, her first charge was to get herself a biro and typewriter, act as secretary to the Board, operate a 2-line switchboard, and buy stamps. Within six months, the staff had expanded and a move took place, into permanent premises in Patrick Street, Kilkenny. By 1980 a move to a larger building was necessary. : - V Dara Purcell During the time the health board headquarters in On Jo Redmond's retirement in 2003, Dara Purcell, Lacken was being built, the core staff, including the Executive Manager, Chief Executive Officer's CEO and Jo, worked in a prefab nearby. Lacken was Department, took over as Secretary to the Board. ready for occupation in 1985. Jo's role in the Board continued to expand. She was responsible for the day- A native of Thurles, Co. Tipperary, Dara joined the Board to-day running of Head Office, including post room, in November 1999. Prior to nis appointment in the cleaning and canteen staff. By 1989 she nad taken on South East, Dara worked as Principal Clerk in the the rationalisation of birth, marriage and death registra­ Houses of the Oireachtas. tion services regionally. For a couple of weeks each year she movea back to Waterford to organise the He remained as Secretary to the South Eastern Health annual recruitment of student nurses. Board, until the last meeting of the Board, in June 2004.

125 6 - Board Membership Board Membership 1971 - 2004

Carlow County Council Tipperary S.R. v Mrs. Kathleen Brady - O'Neill 1972 - 1985 Mr. Tom Ambrose 1985 - 2004 Mr. J. Browne 1984 - 1989 Mr. Jack Crowe 1985 - 2004 Mr. P. Carpenter 1985 - 1991 Mr. Con Donovan 1970 - 1999 Mr. Michael Deering 1989 - 2004 Mr. Michael Ferris 1973 - 1985 Mr. Des Governey, T.D. 1970 - 1984 Mr. James Murphy 1970 - 1985 Mr. John Fahy 1970 - 1972 Dr. Sean McCarthy 1999 - 2004 Mr. Rody Kelly 2002 - 2004 Mr. Sean Treacy, T.D. 1970 - 1973 Mr. Michael Meaney 1979 - 1985 Mr. Jimmy Murnane 1991 - 2001 Mr. T. Nolan, T.D. 1970 - 1979 Waterford County Council Mr. M.J. Nolan 1985 - 1991 Mrs. Katherine Bulbulia 1979 1985 Mr. Tom Cronin 2001 2004 Mr. Charles Curran 1970 1979 Kilkenny County Council Mr. Austin Deasy, T.D. 1979 1983 Mrs. A. Blackmore 1999 - 2004 Dr. Tom Higgins 1999 2004 Mr. D. Brennan 1996 - 1999 Mr. W. Kyne 1985 1999 Mr. T. Coogan 1985 - 1989 Mr. P. Leahy 1999 2001 Mr. K. Crotty, T.D. 1970 - 1985 Mr. G. O'Halloran 1983 1999 1989 - 1991 Mr. James Quirke 1970 1979 Mr. Phil Hogan 1991 - 1998 Mr. William Ireland 1998 - 1999 Mr. Michael Lanigan 1985 - 1989 Waterford City Council Mrs. Cora Long 1999 - 2004 Mr. Jhomas Brennan 1970 - 1974 Mr. Tom Maher 1999 - 2004 Mr. J. Cummins 1970 - 1985 Mr. E. Meade 1989 - 1991 Mr. P. Power 1985 - 1999 Mr. M.J. McGuinness 1970 - 1985 Mr. William Quinlan 1974 - 1985 1991 - 1999 Mr. Hilary Quinlan . 1991 -2004 Mr. Michael O'Brien 1984 - 1996 Mr. Seamus Ryan 1999 - 2004 Mr. Seamus Pattison, T.D. 1970 - 1984 Mr. Brian Swift v 1985 - 1991

126 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

Wexford County Council Dr. Mary Mooney 2002 - 2004 Mrs. Deirdre Bolger 1979 - 2004 Dr. James P. Morrison 1982 - 1992 Mr. James J. Bowe 1970 - 1979 Dr. Cormac MacNamara 1977 - 1987 Mr. Sean Browne, T.D. 1970 - 1975 Mr. G.A. McLean-Lee 1970 - 1977 Mr. Thomas F. Byrne 1970 - 1974 Dr. P. McKiernan 1982 - 1987 Mr. Gus Byrne 1985 - 1991 Dr. D.J. Ormonde 1977 - 1987 1995 - 2004 1997 - 2004 Mr. Leo Carthy 1979 - 1985 Dr. Hugh O'Brien-Moran 1970 - 1982 1991 - 2004 Dr. C.K. O'Doherty 1970 - 1989 Mr. Patrick McDonald 1974 - 1979 Mr. John F. O'Grady 1977 - 1982 Mr. Michael Sinnott 1975 - 1995 Mr. J.B. O'Mahoney 1987 - 1991 Dr. J. Solan 1977 - 1979 Medical Dr. Neville de Souza 1992 - 2004 Dr. John Carey 1992 - 1997 Dr. J. Stacey 1992 - 2004 Dr. R. Counahan 1992 - 1996 Dr. Frank Walker 1997 - 2002 Dr. Gary Courtney 2002 - 2004 Dr. Robert White 1972 - 1977 Dr. Patrick Crowley 2002 - 2004 Dr. D. Woods 1987 - 1992 Mr. Paul Farrell 1982 - 1991 Dr. Peter Faul 1970 - 1977 Dentist Dr. Derek Forde 1997 - 2002 Mr. R.I. Gallagher 1970 - 1977 Dr. Finian Gallagher 1987 - 2002 Mr. Bernard P. Hynes 1977 - 1997 Dr. Jack T. Gallagher 1977 - 1987 Mrs. Kay O'Leary 1997 - 2004 1989 - 2004 Dr. D. Hayes 1970 - 1972 Pharmacist Dr. Asam Ishtiaq 2002 - 2004 Mr. Percy Delaney 1987 - 2004 Dr. Michael Kehoe 1970 - 1977 Mr. T. Hassett 1970 - 1982 Dr. A. Kehoe 1992 - 1997 Mr. Sam McCauley 1982 - 1987 Dr. M. Kelleher 1992 - 2002 Dr. C. Kelly 1979 - 1992 General Nurse Dr. Jim Mahon 1987 - 1992 Ms. Bridget Butler 1977 - 1987 Dr. M. Maughan 1970 - 1977 Ms. M. Doyle 1987 - 1992 Dr. P.A. Meehan 1970 - 1982 Ms. Annette Gee 1997 - 2004

127 6 - Board Membership

Ms. B. McCarthy 1972 - 1977 Ms. R. O'Shea 1992 - 1997 Ms. E.G.P. Walsh 1970 - 1972

Psychiatric Nurse Mr. T. Byrne 1977 - 1982 Mr. John Coonan 1987 - 2004 Mr. M. Delaney 1982 - 1987 Mr. M. O'Sullivan 1972 - 1977 Mr. P. Quigley 1970 - 1972

Ministerial Nominees Mr. Liam Aylward 1982 - 1989 Mr. Jackie Fahey 1992 - 2004 Mr. Martin Fitzpatrick 1989 - 2004 Mrs. Joan Johnson 1997 - 2004 Mr. J. Murphy (Wexford) 1977 - 1997 Dr. Sean McCarthy 1982 - 1987 Mr. John McNally 1977 - 1982 Mrs. Eithne Scallan 1970 - 1977 Sr. J. Stanilaus Kennedy 1970 - 1982 Mr. Robin G. Torrie 1970 - 1977 Dr. J.Wallace 1987 - 1992

128 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD CHAPTER VII - Management Team 2004

Pat McLoughlin Seamus Butler Tom Byrne Chief Executive Officer Director of Information Technology Regional Manager

Richard Dooley Peter Finnegan Eugene Halley Regional Manager Regional Manager Finance Director 7 - Management Team

Audrey Lamboum John Magner Dr. Orlaith O'Reilly Communications Manager Dep. CEO/Regional Manager Director of Public Health

Peter Ryan VivienneTegg Director of Technical Services Director of Human Resources and Capital Projects 130 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Vincent's School and St. Joseph's CBS in Drogheda and in University College, Dublin and the Institute of Public Administration.

He started his public service career in Drogheda Corporation and later worked as Town Clerk in Kells, Co. Meath and as Borough Accountant in Kilkenny, before going to Wexford as County Accountant and to Clonmel as County Secretary.

Peter oversaw the establishment of the new Board, the formation of its working procedures, its planning and communications, and guided its progress under a series of Chairmen and Boards for its first 22 years, including periods of extreme stringency in the 1980s, Peter G. McQuillan when services were severely restricted in difficult In 1970, in advance of the formation of the new economic times, and also in times of significant Health Boards, the Local Appointments Commission progress in new hospital construction and develop­ held a competition to select the Chief Executive ment of community health and personal social Officers and the appointees took up duty in services. September of that year to prepare for the establish­ ment of the Boards and the transfer of services from He retired in 1992 and still lives in Kilkenny, where the existing authorities. The new Boards met for the he is active in a number of local organisations. first time in December 1970 and they assumed responsibility for the services on 1 st April, 1971.

Peter McQuillan, who was the new Chief Executive Officer in the South East, was well known in the region, having worked for eleven years in the local authority service in Kilkenny, Wexford and South Tipperary.

A native of Drogheda, he was educated in St.

131 7 - Management Team

year. At one point in his career he considered moving back to the local authority services and was offered the post of South Tipperary County Manager, but made the crucial decision to stick with the health services. '

During his time with the SEHB he oversaw major expansion in social services following the Kilkenny Incest Investigation, and in hospital services, with major building and equipping programmes in all acute hospitals in the region. His time as CEO saw a great increase in accountability as new and wide- sweeping legislation was introduced. John A. Cooney John Cooney was one of the longest-serving He retired as CEO in 2002. employees in the health services of the South East, before his retirement as SEHB Chief Executive Officer.

A native of Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, joined South Tipperary County Council in 1959 and was appointed Staff Officer with the Waterford Health Authority in 1969 before transferring to the SEHB in 1970 when the health boards came into existence. John served with the SEHB as Computer Manager, Management Accountant, and Finance Officer as well as Programme Manager for Special Hospitals before moving in 1987 to the position of Programme Manager Acute Hospital Services. Pat Mcl-oughlin Pat McLoughlin will be remembered as the last Chief From 1992-1995 he acted as Chief Executive Officer Executive Officer of the SEHB. His work with the and was appointed in a permanent capacity in that Board ceased on the final day of the Board's existence, on 31 December 2004.

132 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

Eugene Halley Despite starting with the Board 16 years previously, Pat had taken some time out between 1996 and 2002 to work with the Eastern Health Board where he briefly sampled the positions of Programme Manager and Chief Executive Officer, before becoming Director of Planning and Commissioning with the new Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA). In Eugene Halley, the longest serving Head of Finance in the 2002 he returned to the SEHB from the ERHA to Health Board service across the country, retired in November succeed John Cooney as CEO. 2004 having served for 23 years in the postion and a total of 46 years in public service.

A native of Roscommon, Pat commenced his career Eugene started out working for Waterford County Council as a as a clerical officer with the North Western Health library assistant in Tramore Library (his native town). He also worked in rates and engineering departments and St. Otteran's Board in 1977. He moved to the Western Health Hospital. Eugene worked in the Dublin Health Authority and Board to work as a staff officer in community care Eastern Health Board from April 1961 to July 1976 where he services in Galway city and county in 1981. He was worked as clerical officer, asst. section officer and senior executive officer in Cherry Orchard Hospital, Community appointed a Community Care Administrator with the Care, External Hospitals, Internal Audit, O+M and Personnel Midland Health Board, based in Mullingar, in Departments. In his early years in Dublin, Eugene graduated November 1984. from UCD with a B. Comm. degree. Eugene joined the SEHB as Financial Accountant in 1976. Five years later, he became Personnel Officer with Over his 28 years in Kilkenny he saw many changes in the the SEHB, a post he held until 1992, when he was finance function in the SEHB: - from the drastic budget cuts in the '80s, to the more affluent Celtic Tiger period of the '90s appointed Programme Manager for General and the varying fortunes of the new millennium. Also in the Hospitals, and eventually moved on to the EHB four 1990s, more stringent measures of financial control and years later. accountability were introduced, which led to additional work for the Boards generally and the Finance Department in par­ ticular. In 1981 when Eugene took up the role of Finance Pat is a past-pupil of St Mel's College, Longford, and Officer, the levels of expenditure were 99 million euro for a graduate in both Arts and Law of NUI Galway. He revenue and 4 million euro for capital. The corresponding figures for 2004 were 744 million revenue and 24 million also holds an MBA from the University of Strathclyde. capital funding.

Pat left the SEHB to take up a position with the new Eugene retired in timely fashion, when the Board was being Health Service Executive as Director of the National retired, having kept the Board finances in check for many years, while managing to stay friends with all his colleagues. Hospitals Office on 1st January 2005.

133 0HS-378

One of the last functions of the SEHB Chairman was the handover of two new ambulances for South Tipperary (I to r), Benny Walsh Ambulance Officer, Joe Keane EMT, Mike Wall, EMT, Seamus Ahern, EMT, Dr. Sean McCarthy SEHB Chairman, Pat O'Grady EMT, Ronan Corcoran EMT, Loughlin Nolan Chief Ambulance Officer and John Perry EMT. CHAPTER VIM - WHAT THE PAPERS SAID

While the minutes of meetings of the SEHB are the official record of Board proceedings, they merely record decisions taken and do not convey the atmosphere at meetings and, at times, the heated debates that often occurred.

A fuller and more revealing aspect of debates at Board meetings is best provided by newspaper reports of the meetings.

What follows is a sample of extracts from newspaper reports, on meetings of the Board over the years and press coverage on SEHB issues. 8 - What the Papers said

" *: -;'4lP { DECEMBER 1970 JUNE 1973 east region. local for a ballad "session" DRAMATIC Allowances Are commented' Aid: 1 MJ.fj| At the inaugural-meeting of M McGuinness. An allowance ® Chicken Feed 1 STRUGGLE the South Eastern Health I of £150 lowers the dignity of Board in' Wexford on;® 1 Expense allowances of £200 the Chairman of the Board. It is chicken feed." . ' ® Thursday of last week;.-%. IJ for the Chairman and Vice- FOR HEALTH Kilkenny beat Waterford by' W % Chairman of the South the narrowest of margins ;|f | Eastern Health Board were Mr. C. Curran of Waterford -¾ (16-15) in the voteto decide - * 4 described as totally inade- felt the allowances'! were so 1 HQ low that the Board should j| the location of the Board's jj* 1 quate at the monthly forget about them altogeth- | After months of intensive administrative headquarters. t meeting of the Board in lobbying and one of the ^Kilkenny on Thursday. keenest, behind the scenes The decision means that |J |* Mr. T. Brennan of Waterford |The sum of £150 for the inter county fights for quite from the beginning of April g said the Minister's suggested ^Chairman and £50 for the some time, Kilkenny has next year, the entire health % allowance was a mere |Vice-Chairman had been rec- emerged victorious and, in services for Kilkenny, w pittance and it should be yommended by the Minister the process, made a vital rejected. He agreed with Waterford, Carlow, Wexford jf | for Health. ' breakthrough in having the and South Tipperary will be j "You would nearly want that Aid. McGuinness that the city recognised as the geo­ administered from Kilkenny. | amount going out to the Board should seek £400, and graphical centre of the south this figure was adopted. r>;l

JUNE 1973 was adopted by the Board at Minister for Health would develop". Health its meeting in Kilkenny on accept the Board's estimate of Thursday. £20.63m. for the coming year Mr. P. McQuillan; Chief Services To as a realistic figure, the new Executive i'Officer 7 said*. , the It is an increase of £3,649,200 Chairman of the South Eastern need to .user'eXisting.-Teso.urces'Jj^p Cost Over or 21.5% over the revised Health Board, Mr. Michael in the most economic mann'er*:'^R estimate of £16,977,500 for Ferris of Bansha, Tipperary possible would haveto be the,-""" 1974. remarked that it was costing keynote of spending depart-a, £20m. the Board almost £4m. just to ments in 1975. . > Staggering as the figure is, stand still. It is going to cost more than however, it will only maintain P..S. The gross expenditure for;:*ii|| i £20 million to run the affairs the same level of services as in 2004 was over 70(f millionJill §| of the South Eastern Health 1974. "And we are not satisfied with HfBoard for 1975. standing still" he said. "We Expressing the hope that the want to go ahead and •^An estimate of £20,626,700

136 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

^ " • • . „>,• •jjj*,-* MAY 1981 UPROAR AS HEALTH MEETING ENDS ABRUPTLY • The meeting of the South Eastern of Borris, said an ordinary allegation newspaper headlines. Health Board at Butler. House, would not be good enough. Kilkenny, on Thursday of last vyeek was Mrs. Brady-O'Neill said Mr. Meaney a very historic orie^; But; for the wrong He produced a number of newspaper and his colleagues should have been • reasons. • ' reports and read statements attributed able to defend tne Board official on the to Dr. Joe Kelly which said that doctors grounds that the SEHB had discussed .The'session broke up after less than 20 who made the decision to treat their tne matter several times to see if they minutes with members, shouting allega­ patients in Carlow Maternity Hospital could get a consultant in Carlow. tions and abuse; at each other. It was nad been 'codded' by the Health Board the shortest meeting since the Programme Manager, Mr. Patrick Ward, Mr. Meaney said he resented the^ formation of the Board 10 years ago. It in the belief that they would get con­ remark about publicity seeking with a3 ,. was also the most stormy. sultant cover from Kilkenny, when in general election pending and] fact they would not. reminded the Chairwoman that he| »'The; fuse was lit when Chairwoman, would not be a candidate. Mrs. ... Kathleen Brady-O'Neill told Verbal exchanges between the Chair members that allegations had been and the Labour Councillors then He said they were democratically! r made against Board. Programme boiled. After a proposition and elected to represent the people of*.. '^Manager, M_r:;Paddy Ward, at a Carlow seconder to adjourn, Mrs. Brady- Carlow and it was their duty to see that - ^ Local Health,Cbmmittee'meeting. O'Neill called a halt. Mr. Meaney the people who elected them were accused "Bureaucracy has triumphed -getting tne services to which they were:. . Mr. Ward had asked her to call for an again with undemocratically elected entitled. investigation -with" CEO, Mr. Peter people telling us what to do." McQuillan,-so that the matter could be When Mrs. Brady-O'Neill defended! c* ironed out. No political the services of the Health Board, Mr^f / McNally suggested she didn't knowV Allegations Mrs. Brady-O'Neill had already told what she was talking about. .¾ members that she was not going to Bagenailstown'/Councillor, Mr. John allow the meeting to become a As members headed out of the meeting .1 McNally, called on the-Chairwoman to political arena. She said the elections with their untouched agendas, the bar­ spell out the allegations and his Labour would be over by next month and they racking continued. Party colleague, Mr. Michael Mean'ey - wbuld no longer be looking for.V 8 - What the Papers said r FEBRUARY 1983 /NOVEMB ER 1984 A Gombeen from 'Desmond Excursions" if singles get contraceptives! the Mountain If 'contraceptives are made and I will be faced with the available to single people, dilemma of legislating for "Just an ordinary gombeen there will be "Desmond people who hold different excursions" to Dublin's moral views to me". from the foot of the But Mr. Meaney said there venereal clinics instead of the mountain - this is what I am was no suggestion of irregu­ "occasional mini bus" as, at "I do not know what you call and how many people see larities, he said, simply present, the South Eastern these things. I have never me". These were the words accountancy errors. Health Board was warned in seen them, thank Cod. But I Kilkenny. am proposing now that the of Cllr. Michael Meaney mater be left to the legisla­ during the course of a Several Members criticised •Father of nine, Aid. Michael tors". debate at last week's health Mr. Meaney for raising the McGuinness told the board meeting. issue publicly. ^November meeting of the He was backed by Senator f Board that the introduction of Catherine . Bulbulia, ^contraceptives for unmarried Waterford, who said that Cllr. Meaney told the Deputy Liam Aylward said f people would have a serious family planning was a basic meeting of the South the issue was very A'effect on the quality of Irish human right and a matter for Eastern Health Board that damaging. "Sensationalism V life- „ the consciences of couples. an accountant who works is the order of the day in | He warned that "sleezy char- She did not believe, in inter­ for several companies had health board meetings", he i acters" would be moving into course outside of marriage revealed to him accountan­ said. "Members are always I discos and other places fre- but if people were going to ao cy errors made by the looking for headlines in the M quented by young people it they should have access to Board. They were causing local papers". d. with "pocketfuls of rubbers" contraceptives. C to sell to all "unfortunate pop­ considerable public s'- ulation already bombarded Mr. Sam McCauley, an disquiet, he said. Aid. Joe Cummins said that] | by drink and drugs". Enniscorthy pharmacist, said people tend to make! it was hypocritical to have And he called for a full careless accusations and af | Senator Michael Ferris, legislation which no, one Bansha, Labour leader in the wanted to enforce. investigation into the errors complaint should only be^ | Senate, said there was wide­ and, if necessary, an recognised if made in! spread abuse of the existing Deputy Kieran ., Crotty, extraordinary audit. writing. *5 Jaw, which was inoperable. It Chairman of the Fine Gael ®was being abused by lay l^rliamentary F'arty, said- he .^'people and professionals. agreed that contraception CEO, Mr. Peter McQuillen Mr. McQuillan said he should not be available to i said he wasn't aware of this would hold an investigation fp!l have a moral objection to single people. But it was a;} situation or any public into the allegations. lathe use of contraceptives", he fact of life that contraception f disquiet. f said. "But I am a legislator was available to them now. \ THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

I JANUARY 1987 START ON MAJOR DEVELOPMENT £51 m. boost for city firm A Kilkenny firm has won the finished. renal dialysis services. contract for the biggest every •4s,' hospital in the South East. The Minister revealed that this Community Services: development forms part of the The £50.85m. regional hospital at overall policy for general hospitals And it also provides the area, with Ardkeen is. the Biggest project in the South East. Waterford has services in the community special­ undertaken by Mahori & McPhillips. been chosen as the regional centre ties of medicine, surgery, gynaecol­ with satellite centres at Wexford, ogy, obstetrics and acute psychiatry. Work on the. project: begins within Kilkenny and South Tipperary. Av&ks., according to Minister for The Minister revealed that a number: Health;" Barry Desmond who signed And he added that planning to of interim works to the value of, the contract»documents at the South improve facilities at St. Luke's fSOO^OO'have already been carried.! Eastern Health',Board 'offices in General Hospital, Kilkenny is in out in advance of the main develop­ Kilkenny on Mondayf'; " .progress. ment. These included a £300,000 extension works to the ENT unit, the The new hospital--wiI Meo'nsist of 470" Mr. Desmond said the new Ardkeen Recovery/Day facilities and the-X- beds which is an increase; of 109 hospital is designed to".fulfil all the Ray equipment and a £120,0001 beds on the existing complex. functions of an efficient, modern administration office. regional hospital and to provide

£ Over 360-will;be,employed at peak patient care of the highest standard. South Eastern Health Board* coristruction period Vnd the scheme Chairman, Deputy Liam Aylward wiN take six years to complete, The hospital provides the entire thanked the Minister and his r . although, sections "of, the hospital South East with ophthalmology, Department for their assistance in , will ;be,brought into use as they are ..^orthopaedics, ENT, paediatrics and steps.of the project.

139 I 1

8 - What the Papers said

OCTOBER 1987 i £12m. Plan for Hospital gets the green light /SEPTEMBER 1987 •til & Final approval was given this range of other support services. Former heavy smoker Mr. Gary Sjweek for the £12 million im Hospital Visits O'Halloran, who supported the M extension to Wexford General In a statement first released to Hospital. motion, said he had been Fianna Fail T.Ds. Hugh Byrne - no drag f and John Browne in the Dail on encouraged to kick the habit by S The Minister for Health has said Wednesday, the Minister said 1 anymore the ban on smoking at Health 3fthat work can proceed immedi- the new unit will replace the Board meetings. pately and the contractors, south unsatisfactory surgical depart­ f* Hospital visits will be anything «Wexford firm Matthew Wallace ment in the existing hospital |and Co., area ready to move 4 but a drag for smokers in tlje If people were discouraged- which has been the source of I onto the site. complaints for many years. future. from smoking in hospitals and other places they too might i It is expected that the develop­ He said the new department For the South Eastern Health quit, he said. ment will provide 300 construc­ coupled with the modern .Board have unanimously voted tion jobs and will take two and a medical, maternity and gynae­ •to prohibit smoking in all Mr. ftul Farrell said that, while' <.half years to complete. cology units will result in a com- V pletely modern general hospital hospitals except in specifically people had a right to smoke, ^ Former Health Minister, Barry for Wexford to serve the needs of designated areas. other people had a right to be ; ^Desmond,Desmond, first sanctioned the its catchment area. new hospital last year, but it has j; protected from smoking and j However, psychiatric nurse, the risk of getting cancer. been held up in tne Department Dr. O'Hanlon said the scheme i Mr. John Coonan felt that it since the change of will be funded from within the would be neither feasible nor Government. overall capital allocation of the "It is important to assert the" health service - scotching any practical to impose a total ban right of the non-smoker as the It had been feared that the suggestions that it might be built | in a psychiatric hospital. norm, and facilitate the smoker Government's huge capital from private funds. where possible", said Dr. spending cuts in the health (¾. And pipe-smoking CEO, Mr. Mahon. sector threatened the develop­ Deputy Hugh Byrne described ment and that the long-awaited Peter McQuillan said it could the announcement as great news hospital would be further for Wexford in very difficult , be counter productive to try to The September meeting of the delayed. times. Party colleague John impose a prohibition where it Health Board decided to leave Browne also welcomed the would be impossible to it to the CEO to devise the best .J But on Wednesday the Minister, development and said the con­ ^implement. But he supported Rory O'Hanlon finally gave the struction jobs would be an extra plan for the, implementation ofj green light for the work to begin. bonus for the town. .the motion in principle. the bank. A new hospital in Sligo was the only other good news in the County Council Chairman, Minister's announcement. Michael Sinnott said the announcement was the culmina­ The ultra-modern surgery unit tion of many years' endeavour will include new ward accom­ and during his term as South modation, operating theatres, Eastern Health Board Chairman i accident, emergency, out-patient he had placed major emphasis and x-ray facilities as well as a on Wexford's new hospital

140 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

NOVEMBER 1990. SINNOTT CALLS FOR MODERNISATION OF ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL The need for the modernisa­ in nursing levels at the conditions. It is time that ing their numbers because tion of St. John's Hospital, hospital. situation is addressed by the there has been serious under- 3 Enniscorthy,, with particular Board". staffing there for too long," attention to providing addi­ Permission had been given for- concluded Mr. Sinnott. i1* tional accommodation, was the reduction of bed numbers "Bed numbers for geriatric - highlighted by Wexford Co. in Ward 5 by one, to accom­ patients are down in Co. Programme Manager, Mr. Councillor, Mr. Michael modate the construction of a Wexford and the waiting lists Martin Hynes, conceded that Sinnott, at the monthly linen store. are extensive. There have there is increasing dependen- meeting of the South Eastern been developments in cy on specialised geriatric ;;;| "• Health Board last Thursday. Mr. Sinnott said that the most relation to geriatric services in care by elderly people, and recent visit to St. John's other counties and the time already officials are seeking He was speaking on a recom­ Hospital was quite revealing. certainly has come for the how best to bring about W mendation-from the St. John's Health Board to look at St. improvements. ® , Hospital Visiting Committee, "We have a wonderful John's and to provide addi­ contained in a minute of the Matron and excellent nursing, tional ground floor accom­ He said that a Report is^^t ^ Special Hospitals Programme indeed all staffs, at St. John's," modation there". currently being prepared^? Committee, seeking "as a he said. "But we have been which will be brought before1# / matter of extreme urgency" amazed at the over-crowding "At the same time we must the Board in the near future ;)L the provision of additional there, and for some time the consider the nursing staff of when members would hayeKl ground floor accommoda­ Matron and her staffs have this hospital. We must investi­ an opportunity to look at the.^s ^ tion, and seeking an increase been working in very difficult gate the possibility of increas­ options. l&f • 8 - What the Papers said

-FEBRUARY 1994 Not in Russia, says Murnane

/ An unrepentant Cllr. session of all the-facts, to out with the officials and Ms; Rena O'Shea (Kilkenny), iMurnane, speaking in the make the correct decision in then, if there is a failure to a nurse at St. Luke's, said ; debate which followed the relation to any patient",- he obtain the proper informa­ there-were a; lot of problems I . Health Board report on the said. ,.. tion, the matter could then Vwith overcrowding at the f 80-year-old woman returned be brought before the Board. hospital. : • ' ; / - to Carlow at 2.00 a.m., The CEO commented: "I declared: "I felt the 80-vear- think they (staff) made the Cllr. Deering agreed;that, in "I would prefer my mother to s.bld woman should nave correct decision here - they future, if there is a genuine be sent home to me, rather *been kept in St. Luke's, at were satisfied the elderly case, it should first be than'to;be nursed,in an inad­ Ivleast until the crack of lady was being brought referred to the officials equate V'si.tuation in the\ r dawn". home safely and returneato "before it gets this blast of hospital, due. to the over-,, a stable situation". ' ' . publicity which may not crowding", she said.; He said he had acted in represent the full facts". The raising the matter at Board Board Chairman, Cllr. Pat Board meeting adopted the "It affects'- us as ; workers level, on the information he Power (Waterford) said Chairman's proposition. when unsubstantiated claims had received. It-was his health was an emotional are,made", Ms. O'Shea told view that an hour and a half issue. "The Board is becoming a bit thejBoard.- ' - to two hours was a very short of a playground ana we hospital stay for the woman. "Public representatives feel seem to be getting a bashing .Cllr./ Michael Deering it's their duty to seek ..an we should tnot be getting", (Ca'rlow) said; public repre­ Mr. Cooney, replying, said answer to question's. The the Chairman commented. sentatives could get wrong St. - Luke's was under Board always adopted the 'information: ' . . . enormous pressure in position that there snould be Dr. Finian Gallagher relation to beds and stressed a liaison with the officials (Gowran) seconded the - "I am reasonably satisfied _ ;the importance of having before any public statement Chairman's position. that* 'my colleague from I'beds available for people in is made, to find out the full Carlow (Cllr. Murnarie) got ., greatest medical need. facts pertaining to any case", Cllr. Murnane: "If I have to wrong information. -He said he said. talk behind closed doors I this person was referred to "If a Carlow patient had a have no business being on. hospital t . the. 'person was coronary it would be Threshed out with officials: this Board. We are not .-in' referred to casualty. That - important that a bed be Russia - communism • is was -where, the problem| available for that person. He asked the Board to gone. I speak from the arose", he said. ; • " 2 We have to trust the staff of endorse, by proposition, that heart". | the hospital, who are in pos­ any complaint be threshed

142 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

MAY 1994 THE BUGS BUNNY SHOW!

^.Children in Bagenalstown will have "It's a disgrace and something will Community Care Committee. '[ teeth "like Bugs Bunny" if public have to be done", he declared. "The If the outcome were favourable, he. dental services don't improve. children will be like Bugs Bunny, with said, it would free up the system and Kilkenny Cllr. Michael - 0'BrienV§i the teeth gone out of their heads. It increase the availability of dental requested information on. the number:- . That was the striking image drawn by must get top priority". services for schoolchildren. ana, age profile of people' on^the/ Carlow Cllr. jimmy Murnane at waiting list for dental services., \ : j Thursday's Health Board meeting. Community Care Programme "\ hope we will be able to go around Manager, Mr. Martin Hynes pointed to the schools more often than in the Mn Hynes said that, as-far aspossj6le^4'|! fe.The Fianna Fail Councillor said that out that negotiations were ongoing past", he concluded. the information would be given/biiC ) K&many 6th class pupils in between the Irish Dental Association figures were not always available!./ % ; f , lt-Bagenalstown schools had never and the Department of Health -Mr. Hynes added that a report on f received dental treatment. regarding the establishment of a dental services would be Drought' i separate dental scheme for adults: before the June meeting of the Board's

Regional Ambulance Centre for Wexford IN A new regional ambulance (Waterford) said he objected to the important vote was going to take command and control centre is to high-handed approach of the place at the meeting. The main advantage to the Wexford be located at Wexford General Minister. If the members decided option relates to the existing Hospital, replacing four such the centre was to be Wexford, the Councillor Tom Ambrose said it location of a purpose built centres at Clonmel, Kilkenny, money was available, but if they was their own business if they ambulance base and the benefit to Waterford and Wexford. decided elsewhere, they would attended the meeting or not. the Board with the realisation of an have to go back to him for the asset by the transfer of switchboard ® At last week's meeting of the Health money. Tne Minister was making Councillor Michael Sinnott of facilities to the new base. "7 Board, members voted 16 to nine Wexford said democracy was the decision for the members in : in favour of Wexford as against advance. something that should prevail. Sixteen people voted in favour of a placing the new facility at the Wexford and nine in favour of ®5 Regional Hospital in Waterford. Chairman, Councillor Pat Power, Members were presented with a Waterford when the issue was put f§ said for years everybody in report of a review group set up to to the vote. Before the vote was taken, Mr. John Waterford-took it for granted that look at the ambulance service in Codney, Chief.'Executive Officer, such a centre would be placed in the region before the meeting Four South Tipperary members of, told members' that the Minister for Waterford. Now the Minister had started. the Board, Councillor Torn/ Heajth; Brendan Howlin, had made money available for the Ambrose, Councillor ConfyJ? approved finance for the project in centre in Wexford. He was totally The report that the main advantage Donovan, Councillor Jack Crowed Wexford. If the Board decided on a opposed to such a proposal. in the Waterford option was that on and Dr. John Carey voted foMj different location, an application the grounds of cost alone, less Wexford and Councillor Jackie'S _for .funding would have to be made Councillor O'Halloran said a capital resources would be Fahey, Dr. Neville DeSouza and Dragjf> to him. number of members were missing required. The total extra cost of Bernard Hynes voted for Waterforttfts from the meeting. None of them equipping the centre at Wexford Councillor ' Gary O'Halloran were informed that such an against Waterford is 113,972 punts.

143 J • 8 - What the Papers said

JULY 1994 A healthy sign of the

;The first ever Annual Review of Health Minister , Brendan more recently, St. -Luke's * The Board spent a total of £232 Lthe South Eastern Health Board's Howl in, who was presented Hospital in Kilkenny. "We hope miljioh-:in 1993. Of this total, »_ 'activities was launched with a copy of the Review last to have a hospital services that is £ 1 OS/m i 11 ion (45/2%))Vwasi'spent ' '."Thursday. week, said that he was pleased ready for the 21st century", he on generaT hospitals, £44 with the concept and appear­ declared. • _ ; million (l,0%)j:'\on'- special v The glossy, readable 1993 ance of the publication and • hospitals -' and.,'; £83 million; ^ Review is designed to inform would read it with interest. The CEO added that-the Board (35.8%)ion community care. * . * \. ordinary people about the large hoped to ensure that health fand complex operations of the A copy of the Review will also services wee as user-friendly as * There were nearly:two million" " Board. be given to all existing and , possible and in that aim they individual; corUarts- with the retired Health Board staff, to were no different from many •general^ public, '-including} CP ' The Review will be available in inform them about the Board's commercial concerns. visits,ihdme nursing visits/child community care clinics, hospital activities outside their own health .examinations; dental . waiting rooms and public offices specific units. "And we do want people to use services;; environmental inspec­ and will also be supplied to the survey form which gives tions,: ^welfare /payments' and. f. CPs,, voluntary bodies and inter­ Mr. Cooney pointed out that them an opportunity to tell us if hospitalV. in-patient .and out-f ested members of the public. national health policy was we are wasting money!", he patient contacts.*/•, . And it even contains a pre-paid currently undergoing major concluded. reply card, inviting people to change and all Health Boards * The Board provided grants * comment on services and to tell were being asked to reflect that The Review covers the main ^totalling '£2 . million i.to- nearly the Board if it is wasting money. change in t^ie,' way they features of the Board's activities 200 volu ntary-bodies cari rig for - * delivered services/ - in 1993 and provides much , • people who'included victims of &S*'At the launch in SEHB head- information through pictures .violence, ; disadvantaged %quarters in Kilkenny, . Chief "It is no longer enough to "say and graphs, all covering a wide ; children, the elderly and people ^Executive Officer Mr. John that money will come regardless range of services in hospitals - with * mental ; or ,,physical /Cooney declared: "This is not of outcomes. We have to look at and communities. , handicap. ' } • . • jfS^a'n isolated piece of PR designed how effective our spending is", * ' to clap ourselves on the back he said. Among the fascinating facts Nurses constitute 45.3% of the "but is part of a fundamental included in the Review are: 4,400 staff--- employed by .the '• process to promote improved Mr. Cooney observed that there ; Health Board.,:; /-Non-medicar communication within the had been spectacular progress * The South Eastern Health1' support personnel /account for Board and between us and the in the region's general hospitals, Board employed 4,400 people . 29.4% of staff, -clinical support! people we serve. We want to particularly in the development in 1993. A further 500 people staff, for 7/4%; medical staff fort' promote a positive image based of Waterford Regional Hospital, worked on a casual or ' -5.8,% and"adrninistrative staff t'orf not on fantasy but on achieve­ Wexford General Hospital and, temporary basis. - - .4.7%.C' A ".' 1 i ment". ' ' '/ ' ' " * —-=-

144 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

: 5th:DECI:MB[;R 2()()1^ ; " V block for new East MRI is

• The Chairman of the South Board of the City and "I think it is important to South East is that we will stern Health Board, County Infirmary for their reflect on the difference be able to support the I ^'^^^yfe^m'ahVjHila^-'QujnJcin, support. The Trustees this new service will have medical personnel who " J'ilwilL lay the initial block for maae a generous gift to for local people living in need these diagnostic the new building that will the health of the people of the region," said the SEHB tools to offer the best facil­ -house the . first • MRI the South East with a Chairman, Aid. Hilary ities to patients," the t./-Scanner in the South-East, donation " of over Quinlan. "The new, MRI Chairman added. "We ^:fKisiFriday.(7thDecember £750,000 towards the scanner will ensure that will be in a position to^ *<"2001) at 3pm. . ,,. purchase of the MRI local people have access provide the best teaching! Scanner. to tne best services environment for doctors.; possible." f,: Ifie installation of the MRI With the finest equipment •= C: Scanner .is-a-huge devel- The South Eastern Health and diagnostic services in -1¾¾. "• opment : tor clinical Board is proud to support The equipment has been the country we will be"' * ' services in the South East. this ' development by ordered and when this better placed to continue , • People who: "require an providing the additional building work is to attract the best doctors MRI'scanwi I I - no: longer funding required to completed, the installation to work in the South Hast. have to wait so long or purchase the scanner, and commissioning can In these times when pro- have to travel such long building the new unit to proceed with a com­ fessionals are scarce on distances, ; / thereby house the scanner and mencement date expected the ground it is a great';' /reducing-stress for families' making available the in the Spring of 2002. advantage to our region to % ' and patients. ongoing funding for the have the ability to attract .|' staff and supplies required "Another great advantage the best medical staff j The Chairman paid tribute to run the service. of having the latest tecn- available." : to s the Trustees of the nology available in the

145 8 - What the Papers said

j . 13tK MAY 2002 t; Contract Signed for Phase One of Cashel Hospital Project

g? The contract was signed at physical disabilities "" the South Eastern Health • Independent living units Board Head Office last and respite places for the Thursday (9th May 2002)^for physically disabled i.the first phase of develop- (12 places) gment works at Our Lady's • A Day Hospital and day ^Hospital, Cashel, which is care centre for Mental i>yalued at over€8 million. Health Care services • A 12 place supervised §§f- Approval was received from accommodation for the Department of Health Mental Health Care and Children on the 19th services April 2002 for the project to • Mental Health Care proceed. Services sector head quarters for the Cashel Work will commence within area. the next few weeks and is Phase 2 of the development services for the people of main building will include a expected to take approxi­ will result in the existing South Tipperary. Phase One new hospital for the elderly mately 16 months. The main three-storey hospital being will particularly target and day care centre, new 15 contractors are PJ Walls upgraded and refurbished services for the elderly, bed convalescent unit and ^Limited, Dublin. The new and the construction of a people with physical disabil­ new outpatient depart­ ^buildings will be carried out new extension to the mam ities and mental health ment," he said. ||n a sequence that maintains building. services. We look forward, in > •the existing hospital services. time, to the approval to Mr. Magner acknowledged Speaking at the signing of proceed with Phase 2 of the the input of everyone The Phase 1 development the contract, John Magner, project, which will result in involved in making the will consist of: Acting Chief Executive developments in geriatric project a success: "I particu­ A 20 bed unit for elderly Officer, South Eastern Health rehabilitation, GP assess­ larly wish to thank all local mentally infirm people Board, said it was an ment and rehabilitation, pal­ hospital management and and people with important "day for South liative care, radiology, staff for their ongoing Alzheimer's Disease Tipperary: "This develop­ pharmacy, reception, admin­ support, especially the A 25 place day care ment will improve existing istration and waiting areas. Project Manager, 5 Eamon centre for people with The new extension to the Lonergan,"_.he added. w '' ' *' '' '

146 j -

CHAPTER IX - Sporting Lives

During discussions about the content of this publica­ Staff member and Board member) - played school tion, it was suggested that it would be worthwhile to and underage hurling and football; shoulder injury in mention some of the achievements by SEHB staff in 1951 forced him to change sports; took up cycling in their sporting lives. Nobody realised the range of 1952; one of Wexford's top cyclists for 14 years; sports and the huge number of people who have prolific prize winner of road racing events in County achieved noteworthy feats in their leisure time. Wexford; Leinster Championships and All Ireland medal winner; cycled with his brother Dermot and This chapter highlights a selection of those achievers won many races together; in 1976, he was voted in the best traditions of 'Mens Sana in Corpore Sano' "Powers Gold Label Sports Star of the Past" for - a healthy mind and a healthy body. This list is not all achievements in cycling inclusive - some people were too modest to provide details of their success and, with so many staff EQUESTRIAN throughout the region, there was a limit on space Pat Drennan, Kilkenny, availability. (Ambulance Officer) - Point-to- point and showjumping Within the history of the Board, this chapter fits com­ successes; assistant to the inter­ fortably as both 'diversion' and 'new information'. national course designer at RDS No doubt many of the 'bigger' occasions will be Horse Show for 10 years; also, easily recalled and I hope all readers will find Leinster Club Badminton title something of interest. Thanks to everybody who winner with Gowran. helped to research the chapter. FISHING BOXING John McCabe - represented Ireland at fishing. Joe Cash - member of St Patrick's Boys Club. GAELIC GAMES CYCLING Camogie Alan Busher, Wexford, (IT Department, HQ) - Teasie Brennan, Kilkenny, became an active cyclist after participating in the (Carlow-Kilkenny Home Help Rosslare Triathalon, 1989; participated in Maracycle; Organiser) - Multi Leinster and member of Wexford Wheelers; travelled around All Ireland medal winner with Ireland for charity. Kilkenny; won 14 County Championships with St. Paul's, Gus Byrne, Wexford, (Retired Ambulance Service captaining the club to its first

147 9 - Sporting Lives |

All-Ireland title in 1968. Football Terri Butler, Wexford, (Support Staff, Wexford General Hospital) - Member of Wexford Camogie Michael and Robbie Boland, Tipperary, - (Michael, Team 1991-1998; in goal for 1992 All-Ireland final. Manager, South Tipperary Mental Health Services; Robbie, Residential Childcare Staff member, St. Pauline Comerford, Kilkenny, (former Clerical Joseph's, Ferryhouse) - Michael won Under 21 divi­ Officer, Regional Ambulance Service) - Junior All sional honours, 1974; South Tipperary Senior Title, Ireland Camogie medal winner with Kilkenny in 1991; won several South Tipperary Junior Hurling 2002. medals; selector with Moyle Rovers Senior Football Team, 2004; Robbie played at all levels for Moyle Carmel Fortune, (nee Reville), Wexford (RIP) (former Rovers; won five County Senior Football titles along Support Staff, Wexford General Hospital) - Member with divisional awards and honours; played soccer of Wexford County Camogie Team in 1950s and with Clonmel Town; won four Leagues, seven Cups, 1960s; All Ireland Senior Camogie medal winner one Oscar Traynor with STDL. 1968 and 1969; founder member of Power's Sports Star Awards and subsequent award winner. Jay Codd, Wexford (Supplies Department, Wexford 6. General Hospital) - Eight County Senior Football titles Liz Neary, Kilkenny, (Nursing with his club; Leinster Minor Hurling title winner Staff, St. Luke's General 1985.. Hospital, Kilkenny) - Seven times winner of All Ireland Bill Frewen, Tipperary, (Director of Nursing, Senior Camogie medals 1974- Waterford Mental Health Services). Under 21 County 1988; also won two Colleges Football (Tipperary) Championship with Fethard and seven Club All Ireland 1967, 1968, 1969. medals; twice Kilkenny Sports Star winner; selected as Dr. John Hynes, Tipperary, (Consultant Radiologist, Number 2 on the Camogie South Tipperary General Hospital) - played with Team of the Century. Clonmel Commercials; chief organiser of the Tipperary Masters Over 40 Football Team. Anne Reddy, Wexford, (Non Nursing) - All Ireland Ladies Club Camogie medal winner with Wexford in 1995 and a football medal with Adamstown, 1988.

148 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

Thomas Maher, Waterford, Louis Rafter, Wexford, (EMT, Dungarvan) - Well known (Wexford Community Care) - former referee; won Junior 'B' Inter county football with and Junior 'A' County titles with Wexford between 1979 and Ring, the latter as captain in 1995; eight times winner of 1991; represented Waterford in County Senior Football titles, Minor, Under 21 and Senior including seven in a row 1986 football; won two Cork Inter to 1992 with Duffry Rovers Firm titles, along with Inter and Under 21 football County titles in Waterford. Ben Walsh, Tipperary, (Assistant Fire Prevention Officer) - Munster . Minor Michael Mahon, Wexford, (Psychiatric Nurse, Football Championship medal Bunclody) - All Ireland Junior football medal winner winner with Tipperary in 1995; 1992; Colleges medal winner with the FCJ Bunclody. County Senior Football Championship winner with Martin Quinlivan, Tipperary, (Materials Management Clonmel Commercials in 1994 Department) - Represented and 2002; captained the Tipperary in senior football and Waterford I.T. Fresher and Waterford F.C. in soccer; won a Sigerson Cup teams. League of Ireland First Division medal in 1990; managed Clonmel Town to the FAI Junior Ladies Football Cup win in 1994; County Kay McCabe, Wexford, (CNM1, Wexford General Senior Football Championship Hospital) - Four Leinster and one All Ireland titles winner with Clonmel with Wexford; two club All-Ireland titles, one as Commercials in 1990. Captain, with her club, Adamstown.

Margaret O'Doherty, Wexford , (Support Staff, Wexford General Hospital) - All Ireland Club Championship winner with the Shelmaliers Ladies' Football Team in 1998.

149 9 - Sporting Lives

Handball Hurling title winner with Wexford, 1960. Adrian Johnson, Tipperary, (Addiction Counsellor, South Phil 'Fess' Brennan, Kilkenny, (Former Post Room Tipperary) - Under 16 level staff, HQ) Captained James Stephens' Hurling Team when Munster Handball Title 1970; All Ireland Junior title winner with Kilkenny in winner; Junior 'B' All Ireland 1956. medal winner 2002; runner-up in the All Ireland Junior Singles Barry Browne, Waterford, (Supplies Officer, 2002; Munster and All Ireland Waterford Regional Hospital) - Munster Minor Junior Singles winner 2003; Hurling Medal winner, 1992. Winner of one Munster Intermediate Doubles Munster Club, six County Senior, three Under 21, one Minor champion 2004. and one Under 16 county title with Mount Sion.

Liam Swan, Wexford, (retired CNM2 St. Senan's Tom Buckley, Cork, (Superannuation Section) - Hospital, Enniscorthy) - All Ireland Handball Novice Member of the Cork Minor Hurling Team, 1959. Doubles medal winner 1978; All Ireland Novice Noted golfer and squash player. Team medal winner1978. Michael Collins, Wexford, (Former Maintenance staff Eddie Kelly, Wexford - Novice Team All Ireland member, St. John's Hospital, Enniscorthy) - Captained medal winner with Bellefield Club. Wexford's Leinster Senior Hurling winning team, 1970. Nicholas O'Toole, Wexford - Novice Team All Ireland medal winner with Bel lefield Club. Cyril Darcy, Tipperary, (former Community Psychiatric and General Nurse, CNO, HELIOS staff Tom Kirwan, Wexford - Novice Team All Ireland member and Co-ordinator of Services for People with medal winner with the Bellefield Club; Junior All Disabilities and INO representative) - , member of Ireland team medal winner with the St Mary's Club, the Shannon Rovers Junior Hurling Team which won Wexford Town. the County Tipperary title in 1968; won two South Tipperary Junior Hurling titles with his third club Moyle Rovers; won South Tipperary titles in Junior HURLING and Intermediate grades with St. Luke's Hospital, Michael Bennett, (RIP), Wexford (Former Psychiatric Clonmel, Hurling Club. Nurse, St. Senan's Hospital) - All Ireland Senior

150 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

Ger Devane, Kilkenny, (Leading EMT, Kilkenny) - Hurling teams; represented Munster / Rest of Ireland. Minor All Ireland medal winner with Kilkenny, 1973. National Hurling League winner 1963.

Tom Dixon, RIP, Wexford, (Former Clerical Staff, St. Dr. Finian Gallagher, Kilkenny, (former Board John's Hospital, Enniscorthy) - All Ireland Senior Chairman and member for 15 years) - Medical Hurling medal winner 1955 and 1956, playing Officer to the Young Irelands (Gowran) hurling team alongside Nicky Rackard and Tom Ryan. for several years; an active member of Borris Golf Club. Jimmy Dunne, Kilkenny, (formerly Finance Department, HQ, and currently Seamus Hayes, Limerick, (formerly Control Section, working on the PPARS Project, HQ) - Played in goal for Limerick in the Munster Sligo) - Leinster medal winner Minor Hurling Final of 1979 against Cork. in Colleges, Minor, Junior and Intermediate; All Ireland Under Denis Heaslip, Kilkenny, (Former Supplies Officer, St. 21, Junior and Intermediate Columba's Hospital, Thomastown) - Senior All hurling medal winner; coached Ireland medal winner in 1957 and 1963; Leinster the Kilkenny Minor team for medal winner in 1957, 1958, 1959, 1963 and 1964; two years having won a Leinster scored 96 goals and 119 points in 117 games for title in the grade back in 1971. Kilkenny.

Dr. Derek Forde, Wexford, (former Board member) - Brian Hogan, Kilkenny, (Worked in Creditor's Team Doctor with Oulart, the Ballagh Senior Hurlers Section, HQ, up until February 2005) - Star performer from Wexford who won last year's County Title. in O'Loughlin Gaels' recent successes; Dublin Championship winner with UCD, 2004 Austin Flynn, Waterford, (Former Supplies Officer, St. Eddie Kelly, Wexford, (Former Psychiatric Nurse Joseph's Hospital, Dungarvan) - Manager, St. Senan's Hospital, Enniscorthy) - Leinster Munster Senior Hurling Medal and All Ireland Medal winner with Wexford in 1960 winner with Waterford in 1957, and 1968. 1959 and 1963; All Ireland Senior Medal winner1959; Pat Kenny, Wexford, (Caretaker, Enniscorthy Health member of the 'unsponsored' Centre) - Former Wexford Captain who led the team 1963, 1965 and 1966 All Star in Centenary year (1984) when they reached the

151 league final; All Ireland Club title winner and Captain Minor Hurling; won three All Ireland medals with the in 1989 with Buffers Alley; won eight County Medals over 40s Masters Team. and three Leinster club medals. Vincent Millet, Tipperary, (former Programme John Maher, Kilkenny, (Storeman, St. Luke's General Manager) - First ever Clonmel born (St. Marys Club) Hospital, Kilkenny) - current member of the Kilkenny player to win an All Ireland Hurling medal; played Senior Hurling Panel; All Ireland Senior medal right half forward on County Minor Team, 1952; also winner, 2003;Leinster medal winner at both Senior a keen athlete in his youth. and Intermediate grades; County Intermediate and Under 21 hurling medal winner with the St. Martin's Ted Morrissey, Wexford, (former CNM2, St. Senan's Club; County Senior and Under 21 football medal Hospital, Enniscorthy) - All Ireland Senior Hurling winner with Muckalee. Medal winner with Wexford, 1956.

John Marnell, Kilkenny, (Carlow-Kilkenny Mental Christy Moylan,Waterford, (former EMT, Dungarvan, Health Service) - Minor, Under 21, Junior and Senior Co. Waterford) - Hurling career began in 1935; won All Ireland winner with Kilkenny; National Hurling 1948 All Ireland Hurling medal; won County Final League medal winner, 1976; County Senior Title medal with Dungarvan, 1942; also played football- winner with Dicksboro 1993; Kilkenny Under 21 sub on the Munster Football Team five times selector with the All Ireland winning team of 1999. Mr. Peter Murchan, Tipperary (Consultant General Dr. Sean McCarthy, Tipperary, (last SEHB Chairman) Surgeon, South Tipperary) - Medical Officer to the - was team doctor with the Tipperary Team which Tipperary Senior Hurling Team. beat Kilkenny to win the Under 21 All Ireland Final in 1995; involved with local clubs since then. Freddie 'Taylor' O'Brien, Waterford, (former Psychiatric Nurse, St. Otteran's Hospital, Waterford) - John McCormack, Kilkenny, Played for Mount Sion Club, 1953-1967, won (Carlow-Kilkenny Mental County Titles in Minor Hurling and Football along Health Service) - All Ireland with the double in Senior Hurling and Football .in Club medal winner with James 1956; played hurling for Waterford 1959-T963 and Stephens, 1982, scoring all football 1959-1962. three goals, and 1976; repre­ sented Kilkenny in Senior, Eddie O'Sullivan, Waterford, (Ambulance Officer, Intermediate, Under 21 and Waterford) - Intermediate Hurling Championship

152 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUT^ EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

winner with Ballygunner, 1984; his brother Michael 1950s; All Ireland medal winner, 1955 and 1956. was also on the same team and his nephew Shane is a current member of the Waterford Senior Hurling Martin Storey, Wexford, (Nurse Manager, Wexford Squad. Mental Health Service) Captain, Wexford Senior Hurling All-Ireland and Leinster winning team 1996; Tadgh O'Sullivan, Cork, (Consultant Orthopaedic Leinster medal winner, 1997. Four times County Surgeon, Waterford Regional Hospital and Kilcreene Senior Medal winner with Oulart, The Ballagh. Hospital) - Won Munster medals at Minor and Under 21 hurling with his native Cork in 1972 and 1974; Tom Wall, Wexford, (Psychiatric Nurse, St. Senan's Colleges All Ireland title winner, 1971, with St Hospital, Enniscorthy) - All Ireland Colleges Hurling Finbarr's, Farranferris; recent coach of WIT team; also medal winner with the CBS Enniscorthy, 1999. involved with Ballygunner hurlers. Michael Walsh, Kilkenny, Barry Power, Kilkenny, (Staff Nurse, St. Columba's (Household Services Manager, Hospital, Thomastown) - St. Luke's General Hospital, Won four Leinster and three All Kilkenny) - Leinster Senior Ireland Senior Colleges titles Hurling medal winner 1991, 1988-1991 with St. Kieran's 1992 and 1993; winner of two College, Kilkenny; won two All Ireland medals 1992/1993; Leinster and All Ireland Minor All Star goalkeeper 1991 and titles 1990-1991 with Kilkenny, 1993; represented Kilkenny two Leinster Under 21 and one successfully at Minor, Under 21 All Ireland title 1994; won two and Junior levels; Oireachtas Cup and Walsh Cup Junior Leinster titles and was medal winner with Kilkenny Minors; County title Captain in 1996; with his club, O'Loughlin's, he has winner in Intermediate and Senior with Dicksboro; won County titles in Junior, Intermediate and Senior won an All Ireland Inter-Firms Junior Hurling title; hurling as well as Provincial Club title, 2003; won former Captain of the Irish Junior soccer team, County Junior Football title, 1995; married to Lisa, winning four caps; son of the great Ollie who also Primary Care Unit, HQ. won All Irelands with Kilkenny as player and manager. Tom Ryan, RIP, Wexford, (former Storekeeper, St. Senan's Hospital) - A native of Kilkenny, he was a member of the great Wexford Hurling Team of the

153 Sean Whelan, Patricia Doheny, (Theatre, St. Luke's Hospital Wexford, (Area Supplies Kilkenny), - Lady Captain, Castlecomer Golf Club, Manager in Wexford) - Won 2004. eight County Hurling medals with Buffers Alley; All Ireland Redmond P. Russell, (former Hospital Manager), - Club medal, 1989; Captained Captain, Dungarvan Golf Club, 1976; President 1996 Wexford in the 1986 champi­ and 1997; prime mover in the extension to an 18- onship. hole course and relocation to Knocknagraunagh.

Tommy Kirwan, Wexford, (Bus Driver, St. John's Bernadette Kearney, (Chef, St Otteran's Hospital, Hospital, Enniscorthy) - Oulart's popular GAA Waterford), - . Lady Captain, Faithlegg Golf Club, referee. 1999; winner of Pro Am Team event 1999; winner of Captain's Prize, 2000. Enniscorthy Greats - Other Enniscorthy staff to shine for club and county in Gaelic Games were: Mylie Denis Brophy, (Superannuation Department), - Doyle, Dick Daly, Tom Jones, Sean Redmond, Martin Matchplay Champion 1983, 1990, 2002; Junior Fitzhenry and Tom Doyle. Scratch Cup winner 1992, 1998 at Kilkenny Golf Club. GOLF Bernard Hynes, (former Principal Dental Officer, Patrick (PJ) O' Reilly, (Psychiatric Nursing Staff, St. South Tipperary and former Board member) - Canice's Hospital, Kilkenny) - Captain, Kilkenny Golf Chairman Munster Branch G.U.I, having been Club, 2001. Treasurer for many years; Captain Carrick-on-Suir Club 1956, 1989 (Centenary Year); President, 1973; Benny Kennelly, (Dental Surgeon, Waterford), - nominated as President of the Golfing Union of President, Tramore Golf Club, 1979; made trustee, Ireland at the 2004 Munster Branch AGM; he has 1986; elected to Honorary life member, 1990. served on the Munster Branch for 20 years. Breda Edmonston, (Staff Nurse, St. Patrick's Hospital, Ann Kennelly, (Regional Disability Co-ordinator), Waterford, - Winner of Lady Captain's Prize, Tramore Lady Captain, Castlecomer Golf Club, 2000; Golf Club, 1991. involved in the development of the course from a nine hole to 18-hole course. Dr. Edward Mitchell, (Former District Medical

154 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

Officer) - Club President, Tramore Golf Club, 1997, the same year as his wife Eva held the lady PITCH AND PUTT President's office. Terry Hayes, (Community Psychiatric Nurse, Kay O' Leary (former Board member) - Lady Captain, Waterford Mental Health Tramore Golf Club, 1994; Winner of Belvedere cup, Services) - Senior Pitch and Putt 1969, and Lady Captain's Prize, 1975. All Ireland Gents Senior Inter County Championship winner Mary Brannigan, (Radiographer at Waterford with Waterford, 1979; 13th and Regional Hospital) - Lady Captain, Waterford Golf youngest President of PPUI Club, 2003. 1995-1997; currently an anti doping officer on the anti Deirdre Mulrooney, (Acting CNMI, Waterford doping programme of the Irish Mental Health Services) - Lady Captain's prize Sports Council for PPUI. winner 2000, Waterford Castle Golf Club. RACQUETBALL Patricia Hanton, (Wexford) - member of Wexford John Comerford, (former Nursing Officer, St. Golf Club since 2002, having previously played Par Canice's Hospital, Kilkenny), - represented Ireland in 3; won Lady "Golfer of the Year", 2003; won the the Senior Olympics in Orlando, Florida, 1999; Matchplay title for lady golfers; won the 'Captain's winner of two bronze World Championship medals, prize to the Ladies', 2004. two European gold medals and 11 national titles; awarded four Smithwicks Sports Star Awards; currently National General Secretary for the Racquet HOCKEY Ball Association in Ireland for their Drug Liaison Officer for drug testing members. Eamon Stafford, RIP, Carlow (former Head of Maintenance, ROWING St. Dympna's Hospital, Carlow) Andy Ryan - (EMT, South Tipperary) - won a Maiden - leading sportsman in athletics, championship of Ireland (aged 18 years) in a coxed Gaelic football, soccer, rowing four, 1975; participated in the World Masters and hockey; received the Irish Championship (veteran), 1994; won both the coxed Hockey Union's Merit Badge, and coxless fours "C" category in Montreal, 2001; 1987. finished runners-up in Prague, 2002; participated in

155 Vichy, Southern France in the "C" category, 2003. over the years with the Kilkenny County and City Lawn Tennis Club. The SEHB was ably represented in SNOOKER the annual Inter Firms competition by the Care Bears Jim Leacy - represented Ireland at Snooker. Team of Susan Power, Paddy Lanigan, Jacinta Culleton and Joe O'Grady. Quite a few other staff SOCCER members have achieved an array of successes, Laurence Freeman and Liam Kenny, (Support Staff, including Grainne Parker, Monica Costigan, Ann St. John's Hospital, Enniscorthy) were noted players Walton, Margaret Murphy, Sinead Byrne, Helen with Enniscorthy Town AFC and the W+DL. Fitzgerald, Dorrie Lenehan, Donal Deering, Gary Courtney, Kieran Carroll, Nicky Maher and Leona Pat Shortall, (Deputy Manager, St. Luke's General Good. Sheila Byrne-Harte brought the club to Hospital, Kilkenny) - referee for the last 26 years, offi­ success in the Leinster Provincial Cup. ciating at all levels in both the Kilkenny and District Soccer League and at national level; voted Referee of SEHB SPORTS CLUBS the Year in Kilkenny on no fewer than 10 occasions SEHB Golf Society throughout his career. The SEHB Golf Society began in 1996, when a small group of golf enthusiasts based in South Tipperary SPORTS QUIZ Community Care decided to start a Golf Society. Lenehan's Team - In September 2001, Lenehan's Bar, Spouses and partners were welcomed into the Kilkenny, won the Guinness All Ireland Hurling Quiz Society and this helped not only to boost the in Dublin. The team had strong SEHB links - Liam finances, but also greatly improved the standard of Lanigan and Seamus O'Doherty, Head Office, were golf within the Society. members; Jim McGarry's wife, Patricia, is a Social Worker, while Martin Foley is now married to In the year 2000, the Society opened the membership Martina Prendergast, Clerical staff member, Kilcreene to all Board staff and the name was changed from Hospital. South Tipperary Community Care Golf Society to the more manageable title of SEHB Golf Society. TABLE TENNIS Kevin Murphy - won an All Ireland Table Tennis Team The first Captain of the Society was Paula Cashman medal with Wexford. (Occupational Therapy), and thereafter the winner of the annual Captain's Prize took over as Captain for TENNIS the following year. A number of SEHB staff have been actively involved

156 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

In 1997 Paula was succeeded by Clonmel dentist, passing. As an early shot at communications, an Dan O'Connell ( husband of Patrice Coman, official programme was published for each year's Physiotherapist). The Captains in subsequent years events!! were: 1998 Seamus Moore (Environmental Health); Earlier in the 1980s, the HQ pool tournament was 1999 Martin Quinlivan (Materials Management); very popular, with many unforgettable contests en 2000 Susan Olden (Speech and Language Therapy); route to the grand finals night at The Village Club'. 2001 Greg Price (Community Welfare); 2002 Pat O'Keeffe (Brendan's wife!); 2003 Alan Busher GAELIC CLUBS ( I.T.); 2004 Niall Murphy ( Dentist ) and, taking Ardkeen Camogie Club centre stage for 2005 is "the Rose of Mooncoin" This famous club was founded in 1969 at a meeting himself, Tom Grant ( Community Welfare). in the canteen in the Old Ardkeen Hospital. Danny Bowe, who has worked in the hospital's Supplies The SEHB Golf Society Tour drives off in April, and Department since 1968, was its only Chairman and during the year six outings take place , the highlight still relishes the role. Dr. Pat Devlin was a former of the calendar being the Captain's Prize. Over the Cork camogie player and a driving force in the early years, outings have been held in Carrick-on-Suir; years. The first Secretary was Phil Barry (then Casey). Callan; Clonmel; Dundrum; Gold Coast (Dungarvan); New Ross; Rosslare; St. Helen's Bay The Club began playing in competitions in 1970 and (Rosslare); Thurles; Waterford Castle; Waterford the first success was in the local Erin's Own tourna­ Municipal and Wexford. ment. For the first 15 years of its existence, the club played only at adult level. The club had a short-lived Since its inception in 1996, the SEHB Golf Society basketball team as well as a badminton section has gone from strength to strength (there are now which lasted for many years and proved very popular. approximately 50 members). The club won the Waterford League and HQ FUN Championship many times and holds the record of The Head Office sports evening was established in never having missed playing in the All Ireland seven- 1986 and held on the grounds of nearby St. Canice's a-side competition at Kilmacud since its inception. A Hospital. The event that saw the staff divided into five special presentation was made to the club last teams ran for three years, and the Gus Quirke September as an appreciation of loyalty by the hosts. Memorial Trophy was presented to the winning Captain. Gus worked on the Board's Clerical Staff in Some of the players who wore the club's colours over Wexford and at Head Quarters prior to his premature the years include Ann Kennedy (now Director of

157 9 - Sporting Lives

Nursing, St. Patrick's, Waterford); Kathleen (Crossan) Hennebry (P.H.N.); Lucy Foskin now Quinn (wife of Kilkenny County Board Chairman Ned); Joan Cotter, Senior Staff Nurse; Phil Casey (Barry) now a Dungarvan based Nurse and Mary O'Brien and Celia O'Donohoe from the Dental Service. The O'Shea sisters, Ann, Joan and Kitty were also stalwarts as were the Fitzpatricks from Mullinavat, the Freemans from The Rower-lnistioge, the O'Sheas and the Flynns.

These days the club has about 75 members and fields teams from Under 12 up to Senior. The Waterford Under 16 and Under 18 teams are well supported by Ardkeen players. Danny Bowe is the current coach - St. Canice's Hospital Pscyhiatric Hospitals All Ireland Football Champions 7 982 and 7 985, back: Liam Power; Pat Staunton; there have been many others over the years - and, Tom Dullard; Pat Hickey; Nickey Morrissey; Tony Brennan; while the Senior Championship has not been won in John Reade; Tom Caffney; Cer Tyrrell; Eamon Brennan; Martin recent years, the club has been in the shake-up for Meally. Front: Liam Lanigan; joe Minogue; Tommy Owens; honours. Martin Morrissey; John McCormack; Brendan Lee; Vincent Shiels and Paddy Grace. Credit goes to all who have helped the club over the Dympna's (Patron Saint of Mentally III) for three years years including Fathers Casey and Flynn (Hospital and reverted back to St. Canice's. In the following Chaplains) and Alice Quinlan who was Assistant years the club took part in various competitions in Matron and a member of the committee. All of the both hurling and football most notably the inter-firms staff have been supportive in their time. competitions and seven-a-side tournaments. During the first ten years of its existence there were some well known players from different clubs in the county HURLING & FOOTBALL CLUB - ST. CANICE'S who played with St. Canice's Hospital: Mick Brophy HOSPITAL (Danesfort); Dick Cleere, Joe Cleere, Paddy Cahill (Graigue-Ballycallan); Phil Walsh, Paddy O'Brien The St. Canice's Hospital Hurling and Football Club (Eire Og); Ger Connolly (Clara); Martin Meally was formed in 1953 and participated in the Kilkenny (Castlecomer/Railyard); Eamon Morrissey and Tom Junior Football Championship under the name of St. Ryan (Muckalee). The team manager in those days

158 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

was Dr. Paddy Grace, a son of the legendary Dr. fame to St. Canice's and Kilkenny between 1975 and Pierce Grace who won numerous All Ireland medals 1985: Paddy Grace, Pat Hickey, Tom Gaffney, Tom with both Kilkenny and Dublin in the early part of the Owens, John Marnell (Dicksboro), Ger Tyrrell, Ned last century. Kelly, John McCormack, John Reade, Brendan Lee (James Stephen's), Joe Minogue (Cashel), Nickey Also in this era St. Canice's had a very formidable Morrissey, Pat Lawlor, Tom Lawlor (St. Martin's), Handball Club and played in many competitions Jimmy Dunne (Dunamaggin). both local and national with John Moore (Talbot's Inch) and Tom Ryan (Motel) winning many All Ireland As there was a fall off in the intake of student nurses titles. during the eighties the club had to be wound up in 1986 after a very successful 32 years. In the 1960s and early 1970s the club continued to play in local competitions until 1975 when the Inter ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL, CLONMEL - Hurling & Psychiatric Hospitals competitions in both hurling Football club and football was organised. By this stage a new breed of young players had joined the nursing staff St. Luke's Hurling & Football club was founded in and under the guidance of Paddy Cahill and Paddy 1948. O'Brien were gaining a reputation throughout the 1st Secretary - Ned Hall. country. The club continued to take part in the Inter- 1st Chairman - Christy Lacy. Firms competitions and in 1979 won their first All Ireland title when, with the help of a few players from List of Honours Tynan Electrical, they defeated Munster Chipboard (Scarriff, Co. Clare) in the final. More honours were 1957 South Tipperary Junior Hurling Champions to come to Canice's over the next few years. In 1981 1964 South Tipperary Juniors Hurling Champions the club joined with the local Gardai to reach the All 1964 South Tipperary Juniors Football Champions Ireland Inter-Firms Football final just to be narrowly 1965 South Tipperary Intermediate Hurling beaten and they won all Ireland Psychiatric Football Champions titles in 1982 (defeating Our Lady's, Ennis) and in 1968 South Tipperary Junior Football Champions 1985 (defeating St. Loman's, Palmerstown). They 1968 South Tipperary Junior Football League Winners beat St. Brigid's (Ballinasloe) in the Psychiatric 1970 - 1971 All Ireland Psychiatric Hospital League Hospitals Hurling Final in a thriller at Athy in 1984. 1970 - 1971 All Ireland Psychiatric Hospital Winners 1971 South Tipperary Juniors Football Champions The following players played a big part in bringing 1972-1973 Winners Old Bridge Football

159 9 - Sporting Lives

• Joe Minogue - played with Tipperary under 21 hurling team. • Pat Hickey - All Ireland Junior Hurling medal, 1989

SOCCER TEAMS The SEHB fielded soccer teams in various parts of the region including HQ Lacken and Waterford Regional Hospital over the years. In 1981 the HQ team won the Kilkenny inter firms indoor 5 a side tournament and that same year the 11 a side squad won the All Ireland HB tournament beating the Midland Health Wexford General Hospital Ladies Football Team, front: B. Board in the final atTullamore. The tradition lives on Byrne; A McCormack; E. Donohoe; M. Pogue; M. Doyle; T. and this summer the SEHB (Waterford) had a team in Harris; P. Kehoe; S. McCarthy and A. Finn. Back: B. Foley; E. English; U. McCarthy; M. Prendergast; B. Foley-Murphy; M. the 'Munster Express' tournament. The team reached McCabe-Power; M. Harris; M. Wickham. (Date is a state secret!) the quarter final of the plate tournament where they lost to David Flynn Associates by 2-0. The predictable 1972-1973 Winners Old Bridge Football League 'Munster Express' report was headlined "David Flynn 1977 Winners Inter-Firm South Tipperary County Associates sicken Health Board"! Senior Football 1985 South Junior Football Winners rep South in Hurling and Football in County Final 1986 Club Disbanded

Staff Members

• Michael Ryan - played senior hurling with Tipperary • A.B. Kennedy (Fr.) - played hurling and football with Tipperary • Ned Kelly - won National League Medal with Kilkenny SEHB Soccer Team 1976/77: Back Row L to R: Ray MacAuley; • Michael Fahy - won All Ireland Minor Football Cathal O'Reilly; Michael Devane; Denis Brophy; Michael medal with Mayo Boland; Brendan O'Keeffe; Willie Hackett; Front Row L to R: Eddie Ryan; Nicky Maher; Gar Reidy; D. Doheny; Shay Murphy and joe O'Grady. 160 | THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD

SPECIAL OLYMPIC WORLD SUMMER GAMES 2003 The efforts, ambitions and dreams of eight athletes and their coaches from the South Eastern Health Board were fully realised. On Saturday, 21st June 2003, as they paraded on the hallowed turf of Croke Park as part of the 450 athletes representing Team Ireland.

Three of the athletes reside in Alacantra House, Freshford Road, Kilkenny and five are residents of Caomhnu, in Kilcreene. Both of these facilities are attached to the Learning Disabilities Department of the Kilkenny Mental Health Services, run by the SEHB.

Alacantra House athletes have achieved the highest levels of success in many Special Olympics events. These successes culminated in them being awarded a The SEHB athletes who participated in Special Smithwicks Sports Star Award in 2002 for their Olympics Motor Activities event are: John Foley, achievement and contribution to sport in Kilkenny. Martin O'Shea and Bob Shirley from Alacantra House and Peter Clohosey, Martin Phelan, Eddie Caomhnu was opened in October 2001 and provides Brennan, Joan McBride and Mary O'Halloran from accommodation for seven residents with moderate to Caomhnu. The coaches of these athletes are: Ber severe learning disabilities. Since it opened, the Fennelly, Pat Staunton, Paddy Grace, Catherine residents have actively participated in Special White, Clare Foran and Nicky Murphy, Head Coach Olympics. Between them they brought home a total of 16 These eight athletes were part of the 130-member medals, which is a huge achievement for all team participating in the Motor Activities Programme concerned. They and their families should be very as part of Team Ireland. This event was held in the proud and the SEHB is extremely proud of the RDS in Ballsbridge and it is the first time such an athletes and their coaches, without whom none of event was part of the Special Olympics World this would have happened. Games.

16.1 .r'V CHAPTER X - Epilogue

The previous chapters illustrate the major transforma­ have also been the recipient of significant resources tion in the health services in the South East region over the" past 30 years with expenditure increasing since 1971. The extent of the change in 34 years was from €3.5 million in 1973 to €261 million in 2003. immense. The change from a locally controlled and part locally financed system to a regional managed Health services for the Elderly and the Mental Health and centrally financed system was a striking feature services have improved over the last 30 years but of the period. The abolition of the dispensary system much remains to be done in these areas. Both and the introduction of the choice of doctor scheme services have not benefited to the same extent in for people on low incomes was a significant change terms of expenditure. In 1973, a total of €4.6 million coupled with major advances in community care was spent on the services and this had risen to €126 services. million in 2003. These figures highlight the disparity in the allocation of funding for mental health and The development of the Regional Hospital in elderly care services. Waterford and major new building and upgrading works at General Hospitals in Kilkenny, Wexford and Radical changes in the administrative structure of the South Tipperary has greatly strengthened the hospital health services are now being implemented. infrastructure in the region. As a result, new special­ ties have been introduced and many thousands of Introducing the Health Service Reform Programme in people can now be treated locally, avoiding the cost June 2003, Micheal Martin, T.D., Minister for Health and inconvenience of travelling to Dublin and Cork. and Children, stated:

These changes were a major advance on the former "A lot has been achieved with current structures - and one-surgeon, one-physician hospitals which were a no one can doubt the level of commitment which has feature of the County Hospital system prior to the been shown by people throughout the system - but 1970s. Scientific and technological advances in the fact is that the structures we have today were investigative medicine and surgical procedures designed over 30 years ago when the scale of activity which have greatly reduced suffering and mortality and the number of services being provided were dra­ have increased significantly the cost of Acute matically smaller. Hospital services. Drawing on international best-practice and a series of In 1973, the expenditure on general hospitals in the detailed reports, the Government has decided to South East was less than €4 million, in 2003 it implement a major reorganisation in the way in exceeded €276 million. Community Care services which the Irish health system is structured and 10 - Epilogue

managed".

The Health Service Reform Programme was the biggest change process ever undertaken in the State. It was a hugely complex task, which involved merging eleven organisations and other specialist agencies into one organisation, creating the single biggest employer in the State. It is hoped that the creation of a unified health service will deliver better health care for the Irish people, improve working environments for staff and delivery value for money for the State's investment.

164 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH BOARD A note on the author

Eamonn Lonergan was born in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. He was educated at the High School, Clonmel, and entered the civil service in 1957.

He subsequently took up a position with the Waterford Board of Public Assistance and its successor, the Waterford Health Authority. In 1965, he was appointed Assistant Secretary to the Tipperary Mental Health Board. He transferred to the SEHB in 1971 and, in 1973, became Secretary in St. Luke's Hospital, Clonmel.

Eamonn was appointed Hospital Manager, with responsibility for the administration of the Board's Special Hospitals in South Tipperary - St. Luke's Psychiatric Hospital, Clonmel, and St. Patrick's Geriatric Hospital, Cashel - in 1976 and continued in that post until 1996 on his appointment as Project Manager, Capital Projects.

Eamonn has been described as the 'Hospital Historian of South Tipperary'. In 2000, he wrote the 'History of St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel' and this completed a trilogy for him on the history of the major hospitals in South Tipperary.

In 1992, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of St. Patrick's Hospital, Cashel, he wrote a history of the hospital dating back to its days as a workhouse, entitled 'A Workhouse Story'. Some years previously (1985), Eamonn published a history of St. Luke's Psychiatric Hospital, Clonmel.

Eamonn retired in 2002.

NOTES

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