The Friends of St. Luke's Hospital

About The Friends of St. Luke's Hospital

St Luke’s is Ireland’s main radiotherapy centre, providing radiotherapy and other oncology services to over 7,000 patients annually. It is a busy and progressive hospital where staff are committed to delivering a high standard of care. The Friends of St Luke’s Appeal Fund was established in 1981 by Prof M J O’Halloran to raise much needed funds for the hospital. Now 28 years later our objectives remain the same, to foster the cure, control and care of cancer. Over the past 28years, The Friends of St Luke’s have raised over €26 million for the care and cure of the patients attending St Luke’s. One of the most striking features of St Luke’s is the setting. Visitors and patients frequently comment of the bright, friendly and modern environment the hospital provides for patients. The support of The Friends has been central to the achievement of this wonderful setting for patient treatment and care. In recent years The Friends have funded many projects at the St Luke’s including : A new CT Simulator, having such state of the art equipment ensures that clinical teams have the most modern diagnostical planning equipment available for patient treatment design. Oakland Lodge is designed for patients from all over the country who cannot travel daily for their treatment and provides complete privacy and independence for patients undergoing treatment programmes. The Lodge, in the grounds of the Hospital, comprises of 49 bedrooms, all en-suite and with a facility for a guest to stay. The Operating Theatre was completely renovated, ensuring that a state of the art modern facility is available for theatre staff to provide the best possible clinical procedures for patients. In 2006/2007 The Friends purchased a new dedicated patient ambulance which  transports patients to and from St Luke’s for appointments and treatments. A new Endiscopic washer/disinfector was purchased and is used in the control of patient infection. A new colonoscope was also funded to assess colo-rectal patients. Cancer Research / Clinical Trials Unit The Clinical Trials unit was established in 2003 and at present 10 staff members are working in the unit and an increasing number of clinical trials and studies are underway in the area of prostate, lung, rectal and breast cancer. Each year The Friends provides much needed funding for this essential research.

In 2008/2009 The Friends are funding the replacement of an exsisting Simulator with at CT Simulator for therapeutic purposes, a new Diagnostic Imaging Suite which will include a digital X-Ray and digital Ultrasound and the complete refurbishment of the Diagnostic Imaging Department  including a new archiving and image management facility and upgrading of patient waiting areas and changing facilities.

 These and many more projects will be undertaken by The Friends. This is made possible by the help and commitment of “Friends” from all over the country who fundraise for this great Hospital – St Luke’s, Rathgar. Mission Statement : The mission of St Luke’s Hospital is to establish St Luke’s as a centre of excellence in radiation therapy and as a leading hospital for cancer treatment, care, research, education and prevention. In continuing to develop St Luke’s as a centre of excellent, the needs of our patients and their families will be paramount.

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