History

For more than fifty years St Luke's hospital, in the Dublin suburb of Rathgar, has been caring for cancer patients from all over Ireland. Since its formal opening in May 1954 hundreds of thousands of patients and their families have experienced the special care that the hospital and its staff have provided. Some patients have been resident, more have been treated as out-patients. During the course of their treatment, many have established a very close relationship with the hospital.

The core of the hospital was the handsome house Oakland. The carefully preserved landscape of Oakland with its gardens, old trees and view of the Wicklow hills, and the deliberately fostered lightness and brightness of the buildings add spiritual solace to the physical care provided. 

The Hospital was founded by the Cancer Association of Ireland on the recommendation of a consultative body set in place by the Minister for Health. A board of Directors was appointed by the Minister for Health and charged with the responsibility of running the Hospital. This smart modern hospital, for the initial stages of which architect T. P. Kennedy won the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland’s Gold Medal, was to be the focus for Ireland’s campaign against cancer.

To cater for the constant increase in the number of patients attending St. Luke's,  the staff and facilities of the Hospital were steadily expanded and St. Luke's came to play an important part in the national healthcare system.    Peripheral clinics operated by the Consultant staff of the Hospital, were established at many locations throughout the Country and close links forged with other Dublin Hospitals.

In December 1988 St. Luke's and St. Anne’s Hospitals were amalgamated by the Minister for Health, who appointed a new Board, half of whose members were nominated by the Daughters of Charity.

In 1996, following the publication of the Department of Health's Cancer Strategy for Ireland,  major financial investments were allocated to upgrade St. Luke's to a world class treatment centre.  St. Anne's closed  on 31 December, 1997, and all services transferred to the St. Luke's site.

Upgrading of facilities by the HSE continues unabated, with significant contributions also from the Friends of St. Luke's Hospital [www.friendsofstlukes.ie].  In 2008 two new and two replacement Linear Accelerators were installed, increasing the Hospital’s radiotherapy treatment capacity  to a total of 8 state of the art units.

St. Luke's Hospital is truly "A Haven in Rathgar" for the thousands of patients from all over Ireland treated there each year.  A history of the Hospital with this title was published in December 2007 and is available for our in-patients from the patients library or from the office of the Friends of St. Luke's Hospital.

A history of Oakland house is also available in St. Luke's.