SPEECH FOR PRESIDENT McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF HER VISIT TO CORK UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
SPEECH FOR PRESIDENT McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF HER VISIT TO CORK UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL ON FRIDAY, 27 NOVEMBER, 1998
I would like to thank the management of the hospital for inviting me here today to visit Cork University Hospital. I am very pleased to be sharing in the hospital’s 20th anniversary celebrations. I understand that today is the first of a number of functions planned for the coming week, so I am indeed very pleased to get the celebrations underway.
In 1967 the Cork Hospitals Board was established to oversee the project of the building of Cork University Hospital and planning began the following year. The foundation stone was laid in 1973 and officially opened on 7 May, 1979. The opening of the hospital was a welcome addition to hospital services in the Cork area. It is the largest tertiary referral centre outside Dublin. Since the hospital received its first patients in November, 1978 it has provided high quality care and service to the public. These high standards are a tribute to the staff for their dedication and hard work.
In the past twenty years the services provided at the hospital have increased. The establishment of Cardiac services in 1986 brought the major regional services at the hospital to four, the other three being Renal, Plastic Surgery and Neuro-science. The transfer of ophthalmic services in 1988, from the then Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, marked the opening of an additional theatre and a new Ophthalmic Out Patient Unit. In addition a hydrotherapy pool was opened which enhances the scope of therapy available to patients. A Paediatric Day Hospital was also opened and this greatly intensifies the treatment of children, especially those suffering from chronic illness.
These are indeed exciting times for the hospital. Coupled with its celebration of the past twenty years of excellent service to the public it has plans in progress for future developments which will enhance greatly the services already being provided. These include the amalgamation of maternity services on the Cork University Hospital site which involves the building of a new maternity and neo-natal unit and will result in a state of the art maternity unit in Cork. The planning and design for developments for a new accident and emergency department and oncology facilities are well underway. These and other developments which are being planned for the hospital will serve the people of Cork well into it’s third decade and beyond.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of all the voluntary groups which are associated with the hospital – which is fortunate to have a number of these groups whose members give generously of their time and talents to improve the quality of life of patients and their relatives. Some go back a long way. ACT (Aid Cancer Treatment) a voluntary organisation which raises funds for the development of cancer services and Friends of Cork University Hospital are in existence since 1983. Radio Regional, now known as Hospital Radio 106FM is broadcasting since November, 1988. A huge debt of gratitude is owed to these and the many other voluntary organisations which have lent their support to the hospital over the past 20 years.
It is very appropriate that on occasions such as this that we pay tribute to the staff of the hospital for their dedication and hard work. There are approximately 2,000 members of staff, involving a wide range of disciplines and the relevance of each discipline and each person to the delivery of a quality service goes without saying. The excellent name that the hospital has for the provision of quality of care is due in the main to the staff. The staff is the hospitals main resource and it is fitting to thank you all for your contribution.
The overall impression conveyed to me on my visit is of a hospital well run and served by truly professional and dedicated staff. The past twenty years and the future plans for the hospital are just cause for celebration and I would like to conclude by wishing the hospital and its staff continued success well into the next millennium.