Staff at Cork's St Finbarr's Hospital celebrate 50 years of serving community

On Thursday, June 25, current and former staff will gather at the Rehabilitation Unit at St Finbarr’s Hospital to celebrate 50 years of rehabilitation services for older adults, between 2pm and 4pm.

The event marks five decades of dedication to improving care and quality of life across Cork and beyond.

Opened in 1976 as the Acute Admission and Assessment Unit, the service began in temporary prefab buildings.

Early leaders, including Ms Patricia Lydon and Dr Michael Hyland, championed comprehensive geriatric assessment and multidisciplinary rehabilitation at a time when specialist care for older adults was limited.

Dr Hyland’s impact, later recognised nationally, helped shape geriatric medicine in Ireland and inspired future leaders in the field.

Over the years, the service has expanded, with strong growth in health and social care teams and the integration of comprehensive, team-based rehabilitation planning.

The Rehabilitation Unit at St Finbarr’s Hospital consists of St Clare’s and St Oliver’s wards.

The addition of 20 single occupancy rooms following the Covid-19 pandemic helped restore bed capacity after several six-bed wards had been converted into four-bed units and the unit now has 71 beds in total.

Recent developments include a focus on Age Friendly Healthcare systems excellence, CARF accreditation standards, service expansion after Covid-19, and governance with  Cork University Hospital .

Large multidisciplinary team

Today, consultant geriatricians, expert nursing and a large multidisciplinary team support services across St Clare’s and St Oliver’s.

Since its establishment 50 years ago, there has been substantial growth in the HSCP (Health and Social Care Professionals) section, alongside the introduction of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) and collaborative rehabilitation plans which are now central to patient care.

In presentations that will be delivered during the celebration event, staff will highlight the strong person-centered approach and team working that continues to define the service.

Former patients have spoken warmly about the dedication of staff and the role the rehabilitation unit played in supporting their recovery, independence, and wellbeing.

The celebratory event will conclude with reflections on the remarkable achievements of the past 50 years and optimism for the future of rehabilitation services for older adults in Cork.