Limerick County Infirmary, 1835-1958

Reference code: IE LA P49

Extent: 15 Items

Scope & Content

CountyInfirmaryGovernors Minute Book (1835-1920),

Reports and Correspondence Received (1863-1902),

Managing Committee Minute Books (1898-1958),

Financial Administration (1916-1956),

The collection provides a detailed insight into hospital administration from 1835, the people and personalities, and tracks developments in the increasing role of the state in the provision of health services and transfer of responsibility for public health from the private benevolence of landowners to state institutions.

Subjects

Limerick County Infirmary

Creator(s)

Governors and Managing Committee of Limerick County Infirmary

Biographical / Historical Note

Limerick County Infirmary was established in 1759, as a four bed charitable hospital located on Little Island. It was founded by two surgeons, Sylvester O’ Halloran, who also established the Royal College of Surgeons and developed a new method for the treatment of cataracts, and Giles Vandeleur. A new County Infirmary was built in 1811 on 1765 County Infirmary Act and similar institutions were established in other counties including Clare, Meath and Dublin . The provision and funding of health services in Ireland in the eighteenth century depended very much on the benevolence of local individuals of wealth and standing and their sustained voluntary interest and support to ensure a reasonable standard of administration and organisation; Pigot’s Directory of Ireland 1824 records that County Infirmary was ‘ a spacious structure, facing the gaol. The internal management of this praiseworthy institution does honour to those to whom it is confided.’ The Infirmary was managed by a committee of Governors, elected for life, who met at least once year, and a Managing Committee, which was appointed by the Governors and met monthly. It was financed by a combination of Presentments awarded at Petty Sessions, Parliamentary Grants, Governor’s Subscriptions, Petty Sessions Fines, and interest on bequests.

The establishment of local government in 1898 under the Local Government Ireland Act meant changes to the Infirmary and they were obliged ‘to write to the Local Government Board for information as to what amount can be applied for to the County Council under the new Act’ (P49/4, 3 June 1899). As a result of the Act a new Joint Committee of Management was appointed with 22 members, 12 appointed by the County Council, 2 by the County Borough and 8 by the Governors.

Staff included an apothecary (paid £90 in 1842), a matron and a number of surgeons who operated in a voluntary capacity as the following resolution passed by the Governors illustrates. ‘that Robert R. Gelstan Esq. be and is hereby elected Assistant Surgeon to this institution to act without salary’ (21 April 1845)

The Governors were fearful of refusing to implement the recommendations of the Grand Jury, which they considered to be ‘injurious to the operation of the Institution’. (22 October 1873). In April 1874 the Governors were forced to refuse admission to City patients, and in order to raise funds decided to permit any resident who donated £1 annually, to recommend 3 patients for care.

The Governors also dealt with the acceptance of large tenders for supplies of food and coal and for the awarding of tenders for major building works including works approved in 1862 to increase accommodation – the works to be carried out by Joseph Fogarty, Architect. On foot of his report it was decided to divide the 107 beds between men and women with 62 beds allocated to men and 45 to women; it was also decided to implement a bye law limiting the stay of each patient to six weeks ‘except it be deemed prudent to prolong it’ (21 August 1862).

The issue of free admissions and the admission of City patients was a constant problem for the Governors and Managing Committee. In 1873 it was decided to accept paying patients admitted by Governors tickets. The hospital thereafter accepted paying patients sometimes at rates set by the Managing Committee or Governors. ‘A letter from the Garrison Doctor was read, asking if soldiers wives and children would be admitted for treatment of general and infectious disease and at what rate. It was decided that a reply be sent stating that, provided there was room, and that the cases were not incurable or infectious that women and children would be admitted as a cost of 21/- of which respectively.’ P49/1 (9 March 1904). The Medical Annual and Practitioners Index 1885-86 records that the County Infirmary then had 70 beds, that admission was free or by payment of between 7s to 20 s a week.

The issue of finance and the need to raise funds from private patients remained a constant theme. At a meeting of the management committee on 13 September 1905, the Matron Miss Mayne reported that ‘in several instances patients came with free tickets and were admitted and that it was afterward found that many of them were well able to pay. Some when pressed paid a little but others refused to pay. She asked the assistance of the Governors to remedy this evil’. (P49/5 11 October 1905.) The worsening financial position of the Infirmary during this period was a cause of concern to the committee and it was proposed to limit the number of free tickets issued to the committee members and the subscribing Governors of the County Council. It was then decided to make the Matron and House Doctor liable for admission tickets that were irregularly filled, in an effort to control and reduce the number of free patients. In 1943 a weekly minimum charge of £1 per patient was approved to improve the financial position.

The Hospital was abolished in 1958 by Ministerial Order, and the building, assets and liabilities, transferred to Limerick Corporation. At a meeting on 20 December provisions for superannuation of staff and compensation to staff were outlined by the City Manager, Mr. Macken. The remaining patients were transferred to the City Home and Hospital.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions: Restricted Access to items concerning patients names and details

Use Restrictions: N.A.

Related Materials: N.A.

Collection Content

County Infirmary Governors Minute Book (1835-1920)

PDF File:P49/1. 10 January 1835 -12 June 1920

Minute Book of the meetings of the Governors of the Limerick County Infirmary, held quarterly pursuant to public notice, but more often held annually or bi-annually, attended by Governors- prominent local business people and land owners, generally elected for life on payment of a subscription, with some medical staff; Governors included the Bishop of Limerick, The Mayor of Limerick, the High Sheriff of Limerick, The Dean of Limerick, Thomas P. Vokes, William Monsell junior, Alderman D.F.G. Mahony, Francis P. Russell, Roger Scully, Henry Woodburne, Henry Watson, Reverend J. B. Costello, John Wilkinson, Richard Franklin (a surgeon), William Griffin, James Wilkinson junior [a surgeon] , Thomas Myles, John Griffin, Thomas Devitt, Thomas Wilkinson, Arthur Wilkinson, Richard Wilkinson, and Daniel Barrington; by 1873 membership included Richard Bourke, Thompson Russell, J. Boyd and Robert Gelston; by 1889 membership included Robert Hunt, J. F. Bannatyne, James Spaight, Captain Edward Croker, Joseph Matterson and Reverend Gregg, John Massey; from 1898 Alec William Shaw was in attendance and (generally acted as chairman), by 1900 governors included Lord Clarina, J.E. Goodbody and Malcolm O’ Shaw.
Extent: c. 200pp
Access Rules: N.A.

Reports and Correspondence Received (1863-1902)

PDF File: P49/2. 10 July 1863

Letter from [ J. Murray], Ballysteen, Shanagolden to James Guearin, Registrar, County Infirmary, requesting that some tickets for admission to the hospital be issued to him for on foot of the bequest of Mr. Rose.
Extent: 3pp
Access Rules: N.A.

PDF File: P49/3. 20 February 1902

Report of a sub committee appointed to examine the financial position of the hospital, recommending a reduction in the number of free beds as the only method of preventing the hospital from sinking into deeper debt.
Extent: 2pp
Access Rules: N.A.

Managing Committee Minute Books (1898-1958)

Minutes of the meetings of County Infirmary Managing Committee held monthly with a quorum of three; the committee dealt with the administration and financial management of the hospital, inspected accounts, received reports from medical staff and authorised the payment of salaries and other general expenditure, ‘ The Medical Staff were authorised to order a new surgical table for the operating room the old one to be used in surgery’ ( 4 June 1898); the committee also dealt with admissions policy, staffing disputes and received reports from the matron and surgeons on the number of patients, received tenders and authorised repairs, maintenance and improvements; ‘ It having been found necessary to get a supply of town water for the operating room it was agreed that Messrs Shaw and Goodbody arrange for same to be laid on’ . (8 March 1899); the committee also dealt with correspondence and sanctioned staff leave, ‘It was arranged that the Matron be allowed one month’s holidays the other nurses to get 3 weeks’ (4 June 1898) The committee also dealt with general management policy. A new committee was formed as a result of the 1898 Local Government Act, called the Joint Managing Committee, and the first meeting took place on 3 June 1899 when some new rules for the holding of meetings were agreed; it was also agreed that a county councillor had the power to recommend free patients and that patients from outside the county should only be admitted on the authorisation of a member of the committee (P49/4, 3 June 1899) Meetings from 1900- 1903 are regularly concerned with the training of nurses in the Infirmary and the recognition of their qualifications by other hospitals and the Local Government Board; in February 1904 new Standing Orders were approved ( P49/5), the committee received an increasing number of requests to reduce charges pleading inability to pay.

PDF File: P49/4. 5 February 1898-8 April 1903.

During this period A.W Shaw generally acted as chairman while W. L. Hunt acted as treasurer; E. Goodbody, Lord Clarina and F.G.M. Kennedy are regularly in attendance; from1899 membership and attendance increased and members included; Mrs O’ Brien, P. Shaugnessy, J.O. Neill, W. Clancy, W. Nunan, J. Geary, B. Collins and E. Sheehy. Alderman Prendergast and Mr. Duggan attended from 1 July 1899, Mr McGrath; The matron (Miss Mayne) and some doctors were normally in attendance.
Extent: c. 130pp
Access Rules: N.A.

PDF File: P49/5. 13 May 1903-11 March 1908

From 1903 members include J. Hogan, Mr. Naughton, J. B. Barrington, Mr Hurley, J.P. and C. Croker, D. L; A.W. Shaw acted as chairman until his resignation in March 1906; Courtenay Croker acted as chairman until October 1907, when the position of chairman was held by Maurice Connery; the chair alternated then between Revd. W. Casey, William Gubbins, and Patrick Vaughan; includes a note added to the minutes by the chairman A. W. Shaw ‘The minutes are signed subject to a protest of 9 members to 8 that Dr. McGrath’s Election was irregular’. (4 October 1903); this committee began to receive reports from a Visiting Committee.
Extent: c. 220pp
Access Rules: N.A.

PDF File: P49/6. 8 April 1908-10 January 1917

During this period Lord Emly is generally chairman and new members include Mr Mitchell, Mr Hartigan and later P.J. Fitzgibbon, C. Hartigan, Captain White, later Mrs White; includes a report from Cyril E. Browne on book keeping procedures in the Infirmary, recommending that diet sheets be kept recording consumption (1 December 1908, 2pp); also includes reference to reports from the Ladies Committee one of which is critical of the Matron and lead to her dismissal (July 1909); includes letters from the Irish Steamship Company indicating increased difficulty in procuring supplies and the likelihood of rising prices.
Extent: c. 250pp
Access Rules: N.A.

PDF File: P49/7. 14 February 1917-9 January 1935

Lord Emly and later Courtenay Croker and E. Walsh (E. Breathnach )acted as chairmen at the meetings while membership changed to include by 193; Mrs Farmer, Mrs Bennett, J. McCormick, M. Quinlan, Dr. Moloney, E. O. Brien, M. Shaw, D.J. Madden, Dr. Kennedy, E. O’ Brien, P. Fitzgerald, J.W. Canty, John Brouder and A. Colbert. Includes a detailed diet sheet and a description of the duties of Lodgeman, inserted to the front of the volume; includes a report of an inspection by the Hospitals Sweepstake Trust and the Infirmary’s application for £30,000 to be invested and to yield a yearly dividend of £1200.
Extent: c. 400pp
Access Rules: N.A.

PDF File: P49/8. 13 February 1935-29 December 1958

Includes reports from the Finance Committee with E. Walsh as chairman; from September 1942 members include D. P. Quish, P.H. Donegan, Timothy O’ Connell, John McCormick and from1946-1952; Michael J. Carmody, and P.W. Ryan; includes a typescript minute of the final Special meeting of the Committee held on 20 December 1958, mainly concerning superannuation rights for staff on the closure of the hospital.
Extent: c. 450pp
Access Rules: N.A.

Financial Administration ( 1916-1956)

Finance Committee Minute Books (1916-1956)

PDF File: P49/9. 9 February 1916-12 February 1936

Monthly meetings of the Finance Committee, containing the matron’s report, examining quarterly and monthly accounts, general expenditure, quotations and sanctioning minor expenditure.
Extent: 240pp
Access Rules: N.A.

PDF File: P49/10. 11 March 1936- 6 October 1956

PDF File: P49/11. 31 December 1931-31 December 1957

Abstracts of Accounts of Limerick County Infirmary from 1931- 1947, and 1949- 1957, containing details of the Revenue Account and Capital Account, (and in 1931) a Sweepstakes Account; the Revenue Account included a summary of income and expenditure, including income from paying patients, subscriptions and dividends, and expenditure on provisions, stimulants, salaries, wages, drugs, dressings, surgical appliances, coal, gas, water and laundry; the Capital Account details securities held in shares and a statement of insurances; in 1931 the sweepstakes account indicates the level of income received in that year from the national sweepstakes account, ( £27,343); includes a Statement of Accounts for the months ended 30 September 1939; from 1940 the accounts are described as ‘ Income and Expenditure Account’, ‘Extraordinary Income and Expenditure Account’ and a ‘Balance Sheet’; accounts for the year ending December 1940 include a draft with ms notes and a statement on the overdraft increase; accounts for the year ended 31 December 1943, contain comments on financial trends ‘it will be noted that the Direct Expenses of treating and maintaining a patient show a steadily rising tendency’.31 January 1944, p1. ; Accounts were prepared by C.W. Metcalfe, Accountants, 46 O Connell Street, Limerick, from 1931- 1940, by Thomas H. William, 101 O’ Connell Street, in 1940 and 1941 and by W.H. O’ Donnell, 90 O’ Connell Street from 1943- 1957.The returns for 1957 includes a Resident Medical Superintendent, B. Crawford’s report; ‘ A total of 775 patients were admitted into the Hospital during the year ended 31st December, 1957. These consisted of Medical, Surgical, Ear, Nose and Throat, Dental, Orthopaedic and Gynaecological Cases. In the Extern department there were 275 patients treated and the attendances numbered 978. In the X- ray Department the patients treated included Board pf Health, 2154, Hospital 417, giving a total of 2571.
Extent: 29 Items
Access Rules: N.A.

PDF File: P49/12. 14 February 1939- 31 December 1955

File of completed copies of H.R.1 forms, submitted to the Hospital Commission for years ending 1939, 1944 and 1955, containing annual information on the number of beds in the hospital, occupancy, admissions, paying patients, average costs per patients, outpatients and an income and expenditure account.
Extent: 3 Items
Access Rules: N.A.

PDF File: P49/13. 31 October 1939

Copy of a H.R. 4 form; ‘Estimate for the year ending 31st December 1940’, submitted to the Hospitals Commission.
Extent: 1 Item
Access Rules: N.A.

PDF File: P49/14. 13 December 1943- 1 December 1957

Copies of Form H.R. 1. ‘Analysis of payments for Special Services rendered in respect of In-Patients for the year ended 31st December - -’ ; a list of services including X-ray with the amount received from various authorities for them is listed under pre-printed column headings for the years ending 947,1953, 1954 and 1955.
Extent: 5 Items
Access Rules: N.A.

PDF File: P49/21. 19 December 1940- 16 January 1948

Register of deaths listing under separate columns; date of death, former residence of deceased, name and surname, male or female, marital status, age last birthday, rank, profession or occupation, cause of death, duration of illness, initials of officer, date when registered.
Extent: c. 40pp
Access Rules: N.A.