A Century of Service - Eoin O'Brien

The Voluntary Hospital Movement and the Dublin School
might not have happened. The surgeons stand exempted to some extent from this
criticism in that they did found their own college in 1784, which soon became an
effective force in medical education and in the practice of surgery. Outside of the
establishment bodies there were doctors of altruistic temperament who could stand
no longer the disgraceful sufferings of the sick-poor of the city, and together with
benevolently-minded citizens they gave to Dublin its Georgian hospitals, some of
which survive to this day.
Dr. Richard Steevens, a wealthy physician, died in 1710 and bequeathed monies for
the foundation of a hospital for the relief and maintenance of curable poor persons.
Although the opening of Dr. Steevens’ Hospital post-dated that of the Charitable
Infirmary by fifteen years he must be credited with the first successful attempt to
found a voluntary hospital. He entrusted the execution of his will to his twin sister
Griselda, who diligently applied herself to the task of building the hospital which
now bears her brother’s name. 1,3 In 1718 six surgeons determined to provide
for the medical needs of the sick-poor, and The Charitable Infirmary was opened in
Cook Street. 1,3 This was followed by Dr. Steevens’ Hospital in 1733, Mercer’s
Hospital in 1734, the Hospital for Incurables, in 1744, the Rotunda Lying-In Hospital
in 1745, the Meath Hospital in 1753, St Patrick’s Hospital in 1757, the Cork Street
Fever Hospital and House of Recovery in 1804, Sir Patrick Dun’s Hospital in
1818, and the Coombe Lying-In Hospital in 1823. 4 In 1729 the notorious Foundling
Hospital was opened by the government, 5 and in 1773 the House of Industry
3
The Charitable Infirmary.
The first hospital was opened
in Inns Quay in 1718.