A History of Marymount
Our Hospital
Marymount is an independent voluntary hospital with University status and is registered as both a charity and a company limited by guarantee.
About Us
Our Care
Marymount University Hospital & Hospice (“Marymount”) provides specialist palliative care services and services for the care of dependent older people. It traces its origins back to 1870 when it was established by the Religious Sisters of Charity in Cork. Initially located on the north side of the city, the hospital relocated in 2011 to purpose-built, modern facilities in Curraheen, Cork. Marymount is an independent voluntary hospital with University status and is registered as both a charity and a company limited by guarantee.
Marymount is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors comprising experts from diverse fields. Daily operations and management are led by a Chief Executive Officer, who is assisted by an Executive Management Team, along with a committed team of professionals.
Until the 1st of February 2024 Marymount operated as a section 39 organisation under the Health Act 2004, closely collaborating with statutory health services in the provision of care. The government secured the final stage of the agreement to re-designate the four voluntary adult hospices from a Section 39 agency to a Section 38 agency.
Our Mission, Philosophy and Ethical Code
The Mission, Philosophy & Ethical Code, approved by the Board of Directors of Marymount University Hospital & Hospice, serves as the fundamental framework guiding our collective endeavors at Marymount. It applies to all including board members, staff, volunteers, and fundraisers engaged in furthering our mission.
Specialist Palliative Care Services
Marymount Hospice functions as a central hub for coordinating the delivery of specialist palliative care services throughout all care settings in Cork. Our services, under consultant leadership, encompass:
- A 44-bed in-patient unit, primarily focusing on adult palliative care for individuals with complex needs.
- Out-patient department featuring a specialist pain intervention service, ambulatory/virtual clinics, and day care services.
- Bereavement and family support services tailored to individual needs following referral. We also facilitate children’s support groups for those under age who have experienced significant loss.
- Community-based services, where our clinical nurse specialists offer specialized advice and support to families in their homes. Our care extends to children of any age and individuals with advanced illnesses requiring our assistance. These services, under consultant guidance, include an advisory component to support patients opting for care at home, in local community hospitals, or nursing homes (excluding acute hospitals).
- A satellite team stationed at Bantry General Hospital to serve West Cork.
- Consultant medical teams providing services across all acute hospitals in Cork.
Service for Older People (SFOP)
Our services for older individuals offer expert care tailored to their diverse needs. Primarily, we deliver inpatient care for those requiring high dependency and managing medically complex illnesses that necessitate extended attention. Our facility is equipped with a dedicated medical officer, and our service is further supported by a full-time Assistant Director of Nursing (ADoN). Oversight is provided by the Director of Nursing (DoN), who serves as the Person in Charge (PIC) and a Medical Lead. Additionally, our service is fully compliant with HIQA regulations. We provide the following:
- Long-term care
- Respite care
- Palliative support care for older adults
Over 150 years of Marymount Hospital & Hospice.
Mid-September 1920 coincided with the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of St Patrick’s Hospital on Wellington Road. The anniversary is referenced in Cork newspapers. This year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the hospital’s foundation but in recent years has been relocated to Curraheen and has morphed into the name Marymount University Hospital and Hospice.
The original hospital from 1870 was the brainchild of the Sisters of Charity. They had won the admiration of Cork general practitioner Dr Patrick Murphy’s admiration from an early stage. The Sisters had visited his father and sister on their deathbeds during the cholera epidemic of 1832. Dr Murphy had owned a tan-yard and some house property. In August 1849, Dr Murphy made a will and bequeathed all he possessed (except a few small legacies) to the Sisters of Charity, on the condition of their having established within two years from his demise, a hospital or room for cancer patients. In the event of their non-compliance with this condition, his property was to be divided by the Bishop amongst the other Catholic charities of the city. Dr Murphy died in December 1867.
