The committee is made up of chairperson, vice- chairperson, honary-secretary, assistant secretary, honary- treasurer, assistant treasurer, P.R.O. and two other members. Sydney Stephens was the first chair-person. Followed by Maura Doran, Patricia Masterson and Dennis Maguire. Patricia Masterson is currently the outgoing Chairperson.
Each officer is elected for a three year term but has the option to step down at the annual general meeting. The A.G.M. takes place in The Loch Gorman Hotel the fourth Tuesday of February at which everybody is most wellcome. The function of the committee is to foster Hospital/Community awareness by getting people involved in the local hospital by fundraising under the conditions set out by the constitution. Improving the facilities and the equipment used for patient care.
Sub-committee. In recent years, a sub-committee has been formed to help with fundraising and other events. There is a committee meeting the fourth Tuesday of each month and the sub-committee join in some meetings also.
We are always looking for more help. The Friends need more people to get involved. You dont have to part of the Committee, but it does mean a lot when people make themselves available to help out at events organised by us. Maybe you and some of your friends would like to help out too?
How the Friends of Gorey Hospital came into being.
Mrs. Ann Coakley, during her first year of coming into post as Director of Nursing 1995, visited local groups describing the value and benefits of having a district hospital and what work is carried out there.
People were very supportive and offered to help to improve facilities and comforts for patients. Mrs. Coakley described the role of a Friends of the Hospital, which she had seen work very effectively in nearby St. Coleman’s Hospital, Rathdrum. With the help of Fr. Jimmy Moynihan, C.C. she called the first meeting to set the “Friends” on the road.
The first meeting was held in Gorey Hospital in January 1996.
Gorey District Hospital was built in 1940 by the County Council to replace an old Workhouse in the town. It then consisted of 28 beds, which included a maternity unit, a female ward, a male ward and two private rooms. The Hospital became busier by the day and from 1952 onwards there was a flourishing Maternity Unit. In 1970-71, under the New Health act, County Councils handed over the management off all but voluntary and private hospitals to the Health Boards, and from that time the South Eastern Health Board governed Gorey District Hospital.
By 1983 the number of maternity admissions had greatly decreased, and in 1986 the Health Board deciced to close the Maternity Unit. This reduced the number of beds at the hospital to 27, all in use for short-stay medical cases, convalescene, terminal, respite and extended care. In July 2000 a Pallitive Care Suite was officially opened by the Minister for Health and Children, Mr Michael Martin. In September 2001, 6 extra beds were opened, brining the bed compliment to 33. All local G.P.s have access to the Hospital. The post of medical officer rotates between the G.P. practices in the town.