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Annual Report 1999
Jun, 00
The Adelaide Society's Annual Report - June 2000
Chairman's Report 1999
The new Millennium is a natural time to take stock. The Adelaide Hospital Society, founded in 1839, entered the twenty-first century after 160 years of service to healthcare. The Society has begun to shape and share a vision for the years ahead which we hope will deserve the high level of commitment so characteristic of Adelaide supporters over the years.
Professor Ian Graham, Chairman,
The Adelaide Hospital Society |
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The core of this vision is that of creating within a very modern public voluntary university teaching Hospital - The Adelaide & Meath Hospital, Dublin, Incorporating the National Children's Hospital - a community of caring and healing centred upon unconditional love which beacon-like will display to the world what Christian and voluntary healthcare can mean in our national health services.
The planning process undertaken by the Board of the Society during 1999 is based upon these core values. The Society is committed to:
Draw Inspiration from the Christian faith
We rejoice in the contribution of Christians down the centuries to the care of the sick and the poor, exemplified in the work of the Adelaide Hospital since 1839 and in the work of The Adelaide & Meath Hospital, Dublin, Incorporating the National Children's Hospital since 1996. We are inspired by Christian love of our neighbour and by the Christian call to seek the healing of all disease.
Respect and Care of the Whole Person
We believe that healthcare concerns the whole person as mind, body and spirit are each the focus of care and that in addition to medical, nursing and other professional supports, comprehensive pastoral care is essential to achieve this.
A Practical Care Ethic
We believe that care of those who are sick or in need requires a very practical emphasis on the significant, and often apparently small details, which are so important to the individual person in care and that this practical care ethic requires to be fostered in modern healthcare.
Citizen Choice in a Pluralist Healthcare Service
We believe that citizens have a right to decide on their own healthcare as advised by their doctors and subject to what may lawfully be provided within the State and that the exercise of such choices requires a confidential doctor-patient relationship. We cherish the contribution of diverse groups, traditions and minorities to healthcare and we are motivated by an inclusive approach to healthcare.
Voluntary Service by Active Citizens
We believe in Voluntary Service by active citizens in the interests of the welfare of other people without any vested interest or expectation of reward.
Equality of Treatment in Healthcare
We believe that healthcare should be available to all based upon health needs not financial means.
In times of great change and pressure in our health services these values will remain constant. We commend to your support the work of the Pastoral Care Service in the Hospital, which is briefly described in this Annual Report. This new Pastoral Care service is based upon respect and care for the whole person.
A great deal of the work of the Society is directed to very practical care initiatives. The example of the Summer Sale providing £12,000 for the Outpatients Department in 1999 demonstrates the difference such attention to practical needs can make to patients. Other practical help to nurses and others in the Hospital are detailed in the Director's Report.
A major initiative in respect of citizen choice in a pluralist healthcare service has been the recent publication of Medical Ethics and the Future of Healthcare (Columba Press, 2000) edited by K. Kearon and F. O'Ferrall. This is an invaluable collection of agenda-setting papers covering a very wide range of issues in medical ethics which are made very accessible for all citizens. It is an important first fruit of the work of this Hospital with a distinctive Charter and ethos.
The Society is a major support for the development of voluntary service in the Hospital as briefly described in this Annual Report. The Society is also involved in a significant way in developing the community and voluntary sector through The Wheel movement, which was so well described to us by Dr. Mary Redmond at our Annual General Meeting in 1999. The Society is facilitating the publication of a major work by our Director, Dr. Fergus O'Ferrall, entitled Citizenship and Public Service Voluntary and Statutory Relationships in Healthcare with the proceeds going to support The Wheel as a network organisation for all voluntary organisations. We believe we have to demonstrate the role of voluntary organisations in adding value to patient care and in active partnership with the statutory agencies.
Professor David McConnell,
President, The Adelaide Hospital Society,
addresses the Society |
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The Society is committed to equality of treatment in healthcare and believes that the inequalities in our present healthcare system are not acceptable in the twenty-first century and especially in a well-resourced society. We foresee a major advocacy role for the Society to advance patient interests and groups who are relatively disadvantaged in terms of access to healthcare. The work of prevention is always better than cure and the significant example which might be given in this context is that of the new preventive services developed in cardiology by Dr. Vincent Maher through the resources made available by the Society. These are briefly described in this Annual Report.
At last years Annual General Meeting I gave three guarantees as regards the Society's stance now and in the future:
The Society, no matter what the circumstances, will remain a voluntary independent organisation serving healthcare according to the values of our members, friends and supporters.
The Society, as a major stakeholder in this Hospital, will serve (in co-operation and partnership with all other interested bodies) patient care by supporting the Hospital through participation in voluntary governance and management, by funding new and enhanced services, by helping to develop the voluntary character of the Hospital and by fundraising for major patient needs.
The Society will fulfil its primary purpose - the advancement of healthcare through our commitment to well researched policy and studies, through advocacy on public policy matters bearing on best patient care, and through partnership and alliances with voluntary and community associations and with statutory agencies.
The future is both exciting and challenging. In the Hospital, major new buildings and services are either ready or nearing completion. I am glad that the Society has been able to invest half a million pounds in our new Trinity Centre attached to the Education Centre for clinical sciences and for education and research facilities. This makes a very practical statement about our belief in the role of university teaching and research in the Hospital.
I want to thank especially all the members, supporters and friends of the Society, because as a voluntary society, we can only do what we do with your support. As we grow as a Society in the greatly expanded Hospital campus at Tallaght, we can achieve even more for patients the next 160 years ahead than we have in the last 160 years!
We've made history in healthcare
Now, help us build the future.
Director's Report 1999
The New Hospital - recovery and development
1999 - the last year of the old century was also the first full year of activity in the new Hospital at Tallaght. In many ways it was a year of recovery after the body blow the new Hospital received in the autumn of 1998 through the major underfunding crisis. This very public controversy, which led to the great loss of Dr. David McCutcheon the Chief Executive Officer, undoubtedly damaged the immediate prospects of successfully developing the full potential of the Hospital.
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| The Director, The Adelaide Hospital Society, Dr Fergus O'Ferrall, speaking at the launch of "Medical Ethics and the future of Healthcare" |
In September 1999 Mr. Michael Lyons was appointed Chief Executive Officer. He, together with the new Hospital Board, appointed in August 1999, has led the recovery of the Hospital. The figures in respect of public funding allocated to the Hospital speak for themselves (the figures are those provided at the start of each year).
1998 £53.65m
1999 £68.6m
2000 £84.8m
The amount allocated for 2000 (while almost £40m less than that given to St. James's Hospital our partner teaching Hospital with Trinity College Dublin) does allow for the resumption of many of the planned developments of patient services at the new Hospital and it represents the base-line of funding which was sought by Dr. McCutcheon and the first Hospital Board, 1996-1999.
The Adelaide Hospital Society has played a most constructive role in assisting the Hospital over this most difficult period. Mrs. R. French, as Chairman of the Hospital Board 1996-1999, gave outstanding leadership in the most difficult circumstances imaginable and she ensured that an outstanding new CEO was appointed which gave the new Board, 1999-2002, the vital basis on which to go forward.
In 1999 the Eastern Regional Health Authority Act was passed and the new Authority replaced the old Eastern Health Board on 1 March 2000. The new Authority replaces the Department of Health and Children as the funding body of voluntary health agencies such as the Adelaide & Meath Hospital. The Act states specifically:-
"Nothing in this Act shall be construed as prejudicing the performance by the Adelaide & Meath Hospital, Dublin, Incorporating The National Children's Hospital of its functions under its Charter" (Section 8(4))
This provides important recognition of the remit of the Hospital and protects the responsibilities of the Hospital as set out in the Charter of the Hospital approved in the Oireachtas in 1996. We look forward to working in active partnership with the new Authority and with the new South Western Area Health Board to achieve the best possible patient services. The Society, as one of the guarantors of the vision of the Hospital with its national remit obtained from the Minister for Health and Children on 6th April 1999, written assurance that the Hospital services will continue to be provided to those residing outside the new Authority's area of responsibility as they are referred by their doctors to the Hospital.
Nursing - the future of the Adelaide School of Nursing
Rapid change continues to be a feature of nurse education. In 2001 the Central Applications Office will assume responsibility for applicants for nursing and in 2002 a new four year Nursing Degree programme will begin replacing the three year Nursing Diploma programme, which commenced in 1994.
The Society has been in active discussion with An Bord Altranais, the Central Applications Office and Trinity College, Dublin in order to agree a set of procedures within the new national student nurse recruitment system, which will facilitate the Adelaide Hospital Society to discharge its national responsibilities to nominate up to 40 students each year to the Adelaide School of Nursing.
We continue to promote the Adelaide School of Nursing to schools and to consider how in the new context the Society can enhance nurse education and development. Dr. David Moore represents the Society on the Nursing Education Forum, appointed by the Minister for Health and Children, to advise on the introduction of the new Nursing Degree. The Report of the Forum is expected in September 2000. The challenge is to preserve the qualities and values of a practice-based profession within a superb academic formation. We are confident that the Nursing Degree to be obtained from Trinity College, Dublin combined with the best nurse practice based in the most modern teaching Hospital, at Tallaght, will from 2006 produce the most outstanding nurses in Ireland. That is our vision for the future of the Adelaide nurse in the twenty-first century.
The Eileen Mansfield Scholarship
In 1999 the new Eileen Mansfield Scholarship (value £3,500) was awarded by the Society for the first time. The recipients were Ms. Mary McDonald, a respiratory nurse specialist, in the National Children's Hospital (£2,500) and Ms. Mary Wynne and Mr. Steve Pitman for research in post-operative pain in the Hospital (£1000).
| Ms Mary Wynne who was awarded an Eileen Mansfield Scholarship in 1999 for research into post-operative pain |
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Mr Steve Pitman who was awarded an Eileen Mansfield Scholarship in 1999 for research into post-operative pain |
The Nursing Development Fund
The Nursing Development Fund continues to make a major contribution to nurses in the Hospital undertaking courses of further education and to student nurses who require bursaries to assist them with their education. In 1999 nineteen awards were made to nurses in the Hospital for a wide range of courses, amounting to £15,200 and eight student bursaries were made to the value of £5,500. The Board was able to provide an additional £5,000 in 'once off' grants to meet all those needs over and above the yield from the capital in the Nursing Development Fund. We commend to our members and supporters fund-raising for the Nursing Development Fund as the needs of our nurses for further education and development programmes will require much more funds each year than presently available. These funds help to make our Hospital special, enhancing the valuing of our nurses and student nurses.
Enhancing Patient Care at the Hospital
The Society has been able to enhance the patient care services of the Hospital. In particular the Society continued its support of £50,000 p.a. for the very special preventive cardiology services provided by Dr. Vincent Maher. Dr. Maher gave a very well received presentation to the Board on 30th November 1999.
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| Dr Stephen lane and Mr Richard Hawksworth with the new equipment purchased with the help of Monkstown Hospital Foundation and the Society |
With the support of Monkstown Hospital Foundation, to the amount of £10,000, a new Medi-Soft Hyp'air Pulmonary Function System was presented to the new Respiratory Medicine Department under Dr. Stephen Lane. This makes a real difference to the diagnosis and treatment of the rising numbers of asthma patients. In addition Monkstown Hospital Foundation awarded £3,000 towards the development of the voluntary library service which the Society, through Mrs. Meg Jackson's fine efforts, has supported.
In smaller but vital ways the Society has been able to provide grants to enhance the work of the Hospital. We have provided £4,000 for equipping a Lecture Theatre to be named in honour of the late Prof. Stanley McCollum. We have also provided funds for computers in the Outpatients Department and our Summer Sale Committee raised £12,000 for the Outpatients Department in 1999. This record was set in the first sale to be held in St. Maelruain's Parish Centre in Tallaght.
Capital Grant to Trinity College Clinical Sciences Building
The Society was pleased to present £500,000 to Trinity College, Dublin who are providing, out of voluntary funds, a new Clinical Sciences Building on the new Hospital campus. This new building will open in 2000 and will be linked to our Education Centre to provide a major university focus in medical and nursing education and research.
Medical Ethics and the Future of Healthcare
A major public lecture series was organised by the Adelaide Hospital Society in February and March 1999 on Medical Ethics and the Future of Healthcare in the new Lecture Theatre of the Hospital. This series was very well received and we are pleased that it has been published by The Columba Press and launched by the Minister for Health and Children, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D. in March 2000. It provides a key resource for the involvement of citizens in healthcare choices in what has been termed the 'biotech century'.
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| The Minister for Health and Children, Mr Micheál Martin TD, accompanied by Dr Fergus O'Ferrall, Director, The Adelaide Hospital Society, on a visit to the hospital |
Board Development
The Board was very pleased to welcome a range of new members who are already having an impact on the work of the Society. New members include: Mr. P. Berman, Dr. D. Mulcahy, Prof. H. Hoey, Dr. L. Hamilton, Mr. Eoin McCullagh, SC, Cllr. R. Hendy, Prof. W. Prendiville and Mr. D. Cox.
The Board has engaged in an extensive strategic planning process, which is helping to guide the Society into the next phase of its work.
The Board was greatly saddened by the death of Mr. Basil Booth, Vice President, who had been involved with the Adelaide Hospital for almost half a century. His commitment and faithful support was outstanding over the years. A Thanksgiving Service for the life of Mr. Booth was held on Wednesday, 30th June 1999 in Christ Church, Dun Laoghaire. Mr. Justice Brian McCracken's resignation from the Board was accepted with regret due to his other onerous commitments. We were pleased that Mr. Justice McCracken continues to be available to support our work as his time permits.
In 1999 Ms. Yvonne Seville, former Matron of the Adelaide and Assistant Director of Nursing in the new Hospital, retired. We are delighted that Ms. Seville continues on our Board and to make her valuable contribution to the Society in so many ways. Ms. Yvonne Kelly, Assistant Secretary in the Adelaide Hospital, also retired in 1999 with a record of outstanding service to the Hospital, including overseeing the actual move to the new Hospital. The Society was delighted to host a luncheon in honour of both Ms. Seville and Ms. Kelly.
European Healthcare Management Association
The Society was pleased to join the European Healthcare Management Association, which is such a key organisation in the European context. Its Director, Mr. Philip Berman, has also joined our Board, which brings a vital international and comparative perspective to our work.
Patrons
We were delighted to welcome Rev. David Kerr, President of the Methodist Church, to the Hospital on 2nd March 1999. It was much appreciated at a difficult time for the Hospital. We were honoured that Rev. Dr. Kenneth Wilson, President of the Methodist Church, 1999-2000, and Rt. Rev. Dr. John Lockington, Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, 1999-2000, joined with Rt. Rev. Dr. R. Eames, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All-Ireland as Patrons for their year of office.
Active Plans for the Future
As a result of the Strategic Planning process a range of key initiatives were explored by the Society, including a 'new model' Health Centre to be developed by the Hospital and the South Western Area Health Board. The Society, after much consultation, was able to present to the Health Board and the Hospital a vision statement for active partnership based upon a new Health Centre. The Society also explored the future healthcare requirements in medical genetics in the Hospital and presented proposals for Hospital consideration. Proposals were also developed for a new Preventive Women's Health Care Unit and consultations were held to develop this in the new Hospital. In all of these areas the Society is fulfilling its role to support the Hospital and to provide higher quality health care for patients.
Bronze Sculpture of the late Dr. David Mitchell
The Society was delighted to be presented with a Bronze Sculpture by the late Miss Lillias Mitchell of her brother, Dr. David Mitchell, Chairman of the Adelaide Hospital Society 1975-78 and Consultant Physician in the Adelaide Hospital 1942-74. Dr. Michelll is the author of the history of the Adelaide 'A Peculiar Place' in 1989.
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| Bronze sculpture of the late Dr David Mitchell modelled by his sister Lillias in 1970 and presented by her in 1998 |
Staff
The Society was very pleased to appoint Ms. Róisín Whiting as Administrator in the Society and as Personal Assistant to the Director, in November 1999. We express our thanks to Ms. Sinead McCarthy and Ms. Jacinta Gunning, who resigned in 1999 to pursue new career opportunities.
| Ms Roisin Whiting, Administrator, The Adelaide Hospital Society |
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The Director, Dr. Fergus O'Ferrall, was awarded the M. Sc. Degree in Health Services Management in Trinity College, Dublin in 1999.
Pastoral Care Department
Director's Report
For the year ended 31st December 1999
"Whether in the lives of pastors, believers, the church or society, our efforts will not be amiss if we focus on this redemptive task - the exposition of God's steadfast love for people, as exhibited in the passionate shouldering of concern for others". Maxine Glaz
The year 1999 has been a year when we in the Pastoral Care Department have been trying to organise how we might communicate that concern for the hospital population. We are fortunate in having a team of chaplains, who are committed to hospital chaplaincy and who communicate God's steadfast love for people by their dedicated service.
During the year, however, we have had to deal with the changing face of our team. Early on we lost Fr. Ambrose O'Farrell O.P. and Fr. Donal Mehigan O.P. Ambrose had been with us since the opening of the Hospital and he contributed greatly to the organisation of the service prior to his departure. During the summer we lost Reverend Robin MacDermot, our Presbyterian/Methodist chaplain, who also had been with us since the Hospital opened. His gentle presence was greatly appreciated by the patients and staff in the Hospital, especially in the Age Related ward. We wish these chaplains, who have contributed to our work, God's blessings in their new endeavours.
The Summer months brought us new faces. Rev. Don Rogers, our Methodist/Presbyterian chaplain moved from the North of Ireland and is in the process of settling into Tallaght. Since September, Reverend Donald and Reverend Bruce Pierce, Church of Ireland chaplain, are participating ina Unit of Clinical Pastoral Education. We are grateful to the Adelaide Hospital Society for its financial help in making this on-going education possible.
Fr. John Kelly and Sr. Margaret Deegan joined us in July, and they have adjusted nicely to chaplaincy work here in Tallaght. They came just before the patients and staff of St. Lomans arrived on site. Before coming to Tallaght, John and Margaret had experience of working with those suffering from psychiatric illness so they are assigned to visit in the psychiatric unit.
Since the Summer our team has remained constant. Our first task was to build an interdenominational team of chaplains and work ont his continues. During the year we have had a few "staff days", financially supported by the Adelaide Hospital Society. These special days have greatly helped us to come together as a team.
Promoting an ecumenical spirit is always a challenge. One expression of that spirit is a team approach to visiting patients on wards. The team includes Roman Catholic chaplains and either Bruce or Donald. In addition to giving expression to an interdenominational approach to chaplaincy, it provides continuity of pastoral care to patients and staff.
Worship Services
Worship services are organised to meet the need of each denomination and we have ecumenical services to mark specific events. Every second month we have a Service of Light for bereaved families which has proved a very meaningful experience for these people. In aprayerful setting they are given the opportunity to celebrate the lives of their loved ones, receive support in their journey of grief and bring closure on their experience of visiting the Hospital. Many family members speak of their appreciation that they are not forgotten by the staff, once their loved one has died. Other celebrations included a Celebration of Thanksgiving fon the Feast of St. Luke, the patron saint of medicine and a lovely gathering for our carol service just before Christmas.
Bereavement Programme
Offering support to bereaved families is an important part of our work. A chaplain is present at the time of death and then at the removal of remains from the Mortuary chapel. Within a month a letter of sympathy is sent to the next of kin, which includes information about bereavement services in the community as well as an invitation to come and speak with any member of our staff. The letter also informs recipients that there would be a Service of Light to which they would be invited.
In September we had our first support group meeting for those bereaved by suicide. This was facilitated by the Director of Pastoral Care and Ms. Jean Casey, who is herself bereaved by suicide, and it proved to be a profound expereince. Suicide leaves many broken hearts and a depth of pain that takes years to heal. From the experience gained in recruiting people for the group meetings, there is strong evidence that there is a great need for support groups. We have just commenced one in January 2000 and hope to have another starting in April.
Education
We use every opportunity possible to promote an awareness of the importance of Pastoral Care to the holistic care of patients. The Director of Pastoral Care gives input on Pastoral Care at the monthly orientation sessions for new staff members. Also, she had the opportunity to teach different groups of nurses. Sr. Joan Smith, who is assigned to work in the Children's Hospital, shared one inpur to new nurses from the National Children's Hospital. There have been several inputs to nurses on the wards and these have proved helpful in promoting the importance of the nurses' role in meeting the pastoral needs of patients. We are open to speak to any group and we welcome invitations from any area in the Hospital.
Programmes of education are alsoprovided to a range of students from different theological schools. From October to December 1999 we had twelve students from the Church of Ireland Theological School, who were involved on Wednesday over a period of eight weeks. It was an intense programme, because we tried to give them an overview of hospital ministry in a very short time. With Reverend Bruce Pierce, I supervised the groups. Despite the shortness of the placement, students got an insight into the action/reflection models of education. They gained experience in visiting patients and learned through reflection, the importance of their role as ministers. They learned also the importance of being aware of themselves and what they bring to ministry.
We have students from two other colleges on an on-going basis. There are four students from Milltown and three from Kimmage Manor. They commenced their placement in September 1999 and will end in May 2000. They visit patients for two hours each week and have supervision once a week.
Mortuary
Unless families return for the Service of Light, the Mortuary chapel is their last impression of the Hospital. Consequently, we try to have the Mortuary Chapel a place that is a comfort to the bereaved. We have improved the décor of the chapel by having the altar, ambo and chairs that came from the Adelaide Hospital, cleaned and varnished. These antique pieces fit in very comfortably in the new modern environment. With a donation received through Mr. Salters Sterling, we purchased plants and more recently we installed these in beautiful pottery pots, bought with donations made by the members of the suicide bereavement support group. These small additions have made a significant improvement to the Mortuary Chapel.
Chapel Committee
The Chapel committee has been meeting regularly over the past year with the objective of completing the chapel's décor. Choosing a Theotokos for the end of the chapel has been an important piece of our work. We have viewed artists' impressions of a Theotokos, interviewed three artists and finally have the same three artists present maquettes of their proposed figures. We are now in the final stage of the process and we are hopeful we will have the Theotokos in place by the end of the year.
The committee has also looked at other areas that still are not completed. The healing images for the chapel will not be completed in the near future because of lack of finance. We also explored how we could improve the long corridor leading to the chapel. It was agreed that pieces of artwork would greatly enhance the walk to the chapel. The three Hospital Foundations have been approached requesting that each would sponsor three pictures in the corridor. We are awaiting a response.
Plans for 2000
We hope to bring to completion the installation of the Theotokos before the end of 2000. We hope also to bring further improvements to the Mortuary by having the Calvary from the Adelaide Hospital placed over the altar with Cathedral windows on either side. New curtains and carpets would greatly improve the Mortuary Chapel.
In our plan for our work in the department, we want to bring on board Pastoral Visitors, who would support the work of the Chaplains. We hope to start small with five visitors who would commence by visiting patients in the Age-Related area of the Hospital. We hope to complete the policies and procedures for the department. We are in the process of producing a leaflet for patients, outlining the services provided by the Department of Pastoral Care and we hope to have it completed by Easter 2000. Finally, we want to consolidate all the good work that is being done and continue in promoting an awareness of the need for pastoral care in the holistic care of patients and staff.
Kathleen O'Connor
Director of Pastoral Care
Summer Sale 1999
The Adelaide, Meath and National Children's Hospital moved to Tallaght in June 1998 and in 1999 the Summer Sale was help for the first time in St. Maelruain's Parish Centre, Tallaght on Saturday, 17th April, thanks to the generosity of the Rector and Select Vestry. The proceeds were in aid of the Outpatient's Department of the new Hospital.
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| Mrs Shirley Bewley and Mrs Sue Pedlow at the Cake Sale in the dining room of the hospital in aid of the Summer Sale 2000 for the Pastoral Care Department |
In February a cake sale was held in the Dining Room of the Hospital by kind permission of Frances Sweeney, head of catering, and this realised £461.25. At the end of the same month, Mrs. Eileen Whitten, a Tallaght parishioner and also a sale committee member, ran a bring and buy sale in her home and made £351. Another major contribution to the sale was £1,262 raised by Mrs. Judy Chambers at a bring and buy sale held at her home near Athy in April. As well as these functions, we were extremely fortunate this year to have been presented with an antique mahogany dressing table and a slope front stationery box to be auctioned in aid of the Sale. These valuable items were generously donated by Miss Elizabeth Ferrar and realised the grand total of £3,197, which gave the proceeds an enormous boost.
Special thanks must be given to St. Maelruain's Parish and the people of Tallaght for their warm welcome to us in their Parish Centre and for their help and support without which the summer same might not have been possible. Grateful thanks are also due to the committee and to all the stallholders and their assistants, whose help is always so willingly given. And finally, sincere thanks to the firms who donated goods, to those who presented raffle prizes and to all the faithful supporters who attended the sale and made the event such a success.
Proceeds on the day of the sale came to nearly £7,000 so that when added to all the "extras" mentioned above the total contribution to the Outpatients Department of the Hospital was £12,430. A computer and printer, as well as 20 stethoscopes, have already been bought and many more items remain to be purchased.
| 1999 Stallholders |
1999 Committee |
| Cakes |
Imelda Bird |
Imelda Bird |
| Deli |
Janet McConnell |
Sam Mahon |
| White Elephant |
Joan Kerr, Vi Hoffman |
Eileen Whitten |
| Kitchen |
Jean Miller, Debbie Briscoe |
Dorothy Barrett |
| Baby Clothes |
Barbara Cooper |
Hendryka Mahon |
| Coffee |
Maureen Millington |
Sue Pedlow |
| Tombola |
Hazel Bowes, Heather Meates |
Thea Boyle |
| Arts & Crafts |
Sue Pedlow |
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| Plants |
Marion Wilson |
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| Books |
Ken & Joy Mawhinney |
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| Raffle |
Meg Jackson |
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The Adelaide & Meath Hospital Guild, Tallaght
1999 was a very busy first year for the new Guild. As always intended, we focused our main fundraising efforts in the Tallaght area. Our opening event was a joint fenture with the NCH Ladies Committee - The Premiere of the "Rugrats Movie" at the local cinema complex. Hard work by the committees filled 1,000 seats with very excited youngsters and their parents and made £10,000 for the Hospital.
In June we had a most enjoyable visit to the newly restored gardens at Ballinlough Castle near Kelly. Eighty of the Guild and friends had an excellent guided tour and delicious lunch and vowed to return.
Our last venture for the year was an extremely enoyable Sponsored Walk. This took place on a very sunny Halloween Sunday morning from the village of Lackan overlooking Blessington Lakes. The approx. 75 walkers brought in £2,850 whilst enjoying two hours of exercise with superb views! Definitely for repeating in 2000 with greater numbers.
Our new 2000 Chairperson, Marcelle O'Morain, is lining up a great deama evening on Tuesday 11th April, The Trickster an adaptation by Harriet O'Carroll of a Moliere farce in full period costume. It will be held in the new 300 seater Civic Theatre in Tallaght and will be preceded by a Wine Receiptio. We look forward to seeing lots of our supporters there! Later in the year there will be another very popular Sponsored Walk in Blessington.
The monies we raise on events are spent in the Hospital under the guidance of the Director of Nursing, Ms. Mary McCarthy. With the funds remaining from the accounts of the former Adelaide Guild and Meath Committee, along with the new Guild funds, we have furnished the Ward Day Rooms with 86 comforable chairs and 23 coffee tables. Additionally, £5000 from the Film Premiere went to help start off the new Asthma Unit. Our attention is now with the Age Related Unit.
Finally, our thanks to all our supporters! With our continuing efforts to localise fundraising events in the Hospital catchment area, we would greatly value contacts who might distribute flyers or otherwise "spread the word" in their district. This applies particularly to the West Wicklow/North Carlow/East Kildare areas. Please leave your phone number with the Guild if you would like to help in the future.
2000 Officers |
| Chairperson |
Marcelle O'Morain
Tel 497 1710 |
| Hon Sec |
Sylvia Simpson
Tel 494 5020 |
| Hon Treas |
Carol Bond |
| Vice Chair |
Mary Mangan |
| Vice Chair |
Karen Crean |
Noreen Keane
1999 Chairperson
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