Connolly Hospital’s rapid growth

THE development of Connolly Hospital since it became a General Hospital has been as rapid as the population growth in Dublin 15.

In 1971, Hospitals 2 and 3 were used for general surgical, while Hospital 1 was retained for Thoracic surgery.

In November of that year, major reconstruction work began with new operating theatres constructed and an outpatients department established.

On August 1, 1973, James Connolly Hospital was officially opened by Brendan Corish, then Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Social Welfare.

In 1979, emergency hospital services were introduced and in 1987 James Connolly changed from a Voluntary to a Health Board Hospital.

In 2004, a significant major capital construction of the new hospital building was completed with a bed compliment of approximately 400 (including acute psychiatry).

On January 10, 2005, the hospital building was officially opened and renamed by the late Minister for Finance and long standing local TD, Brian Lenihan.

From 2005 to date, the hospital has been referred to as Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown (CHB).

In 2009, the first part of the renovations to the old Surgical Wing was completed, and the Care of Older Adult services were relocated.

The second part of the renovations were completed in 2011, and the Endoscopy Unit opened by former Minister of Health Dr James Reilly, on October 3, 2011.

On July 23, 2014, the new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and the refurbished Acute Medical Assessment Unit (AMAU) were opened by current Tánaiste, Joan Burton, and Minister for Health Leo Varadkar. Also in 2014, major capital work began on buildings and equipment required for a new benign urology service.

This year work has commenced on major radiology and scoping of a new 100 bedded Community Nursing Unit capital development projects.

Connolly Hospital is also one of the sites selected for the development of the new National Children’s Hospital Satellite Centre.

Hospital Manager, Mairead Lyons, believes that while progress is inevitable, patient care will always be top of the agenda.

“Connolly Hospital is committed to the strategic and operational revision of patient centred quality care, delivered with compassion and professionalism by a valued and dedicated staff, whilst ensuring excellence, equity and accountability,

? she said.

“Our core value is to put patients at the heart of what we do and how we do it.

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