St Finbarr’s Rehabilitation Unit has reached a major milestone, with HSE South West marking 50 years of rehabilitation care for older adults on the St Finbarr’s Hospital campus in Cork. The anniversary celebration brought together current and former staff, former patients and supporters of the service, underlining the lasting impact of a unit that has helped generations of people recover, regain independence and return home.
The event reflected the wider public service values often highlighted across gov.ie and the Health Service Executive (HSE): person-centred care, multidisciplinary teamwork and better health outcomes close to home. Visitors enjoyed music, refreshments and guided tours, while staff presentations and patient reflections showed how rehabilitation services remain central to modern Health and Social Protection planning in Ireland.
St Finbarr’s Rehabilitation Unit celebrates 50 years of care
The Rehabilitation Unit consists of two wards, St Clare’s and St Oliver’s, with a combined capacity of 71 beds. According to the HSE, the service recorded 518 admissions in 2025 and a further 364 admissions in the first half of 2026 alone. Operating under the governance of Cork University Hospital, the unit focuses on helping patients recover sufficiently to return to their own homes wherever possible.
That model fits closely with broader national priorities in Health, Public Expenditure and community-based care, where reducing unnecessary long-term institutional admission remains a core objective.
A multidisciplinary approach that supports independence
Clinical Nurse Manager 3 Reema Anthony said the service is dedicated to helping adults maximise independence and improve home discharge outcomes. The team includes:
- Physiotherapists
- Speech and language therapists
- Dieticians
- Social workers
- Occupational therapists
- A discharge co-ordinator
- Pharmacists
- Household staff
- Specialist nursing staff
- Geriatricians and healthcare workers
This integrated structure mirrors the joined-up service delivery seen across other state bodies, from the Citizens Information Board to HIQA, where patient safety, information access and care quality are all essential.
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How the service evolved from 1976 to today
Originally opened in 1976 as the Acute Admission and Assessment Unit, the service began in temporary prefab accommodation. Its early development was shaped by leaders including Patricia Lydon and the late Dr Michael Hyland, who advanced comprehensive geriatric assessment and multidisciplinary rehabilitation when specialist services for older adults were still limited in Ireland.
Over five decades, St Finbarr’s Rehabilitation Unit has grown significantly, particularly through stronger health and social care staffing and team-based rehabilitation planning. More recent progress includes:
- Focus on Age Friendly Healthcare systems
- Alignment with CARF accreditation standards
- Post-COVID-19 service expansion
- Governance arrangements with Cork University Hospital
The anniversary also drew recognition from Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD, who sent a congratulatory video message. His connection to the occasion was notable, having attended the unit’s 25th anniversary celebration in 2001. The Department of the Taoiseach, along with Health and Local Government and Heritage stakeholders, increasingly highlights the importance of aging well, integrated care and community recovery pathways.
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Why St Finbarr’s Rehabilitation Unit still matters
Acting Healthcare Area Manager Cork South and West, Mari O’ Donovan, described the unit as an example of how Sláintecare should work: delivering the right care, in the right place, at the right time. That message resonates across Ireland’s healthcare system, where better coordination between hospitals, social care and home supports is increasingly important.
For Cork families, the value of St Finbarr’s Rehabilitation Unit is practical and deeply personal. Its success is measured not only in admissions and discharge figures, but in the number of older adults who have regained confidence, mobility and quality of life after illness or injury.
As St Finbarr’s Rehabilitation Unit celebrates 50 years, its legacy is clear: compassionate, expert rehabilitation can transform recovery and help people return home with dignity. That remains a powerful benchmark for the Health Service Executive (HSE), gov.ie policy goals and the future of older persons’ care in Ireland.
Article/Image Courtesy: HSE
