St.Finbarr’s Hospital (Cork County Home and Hospital) (CCH)

Descriptive List of the Archive of St.Finbarr’s Hospital/ South Cork County Home and Hospital

Cork the change over to the county scheme officially took place in 1924, under the Local Government (Temporary Provisions) Act 1923. Under the County Scheme Order, Cork No. 1, 1924, effective 1 May 1924, the joint Cork county health scheme created Cork County a public health area divided into 3 public health/assistance districts North, South, and West. The South Cork Public Assistance district, where the present hospital and home was located, included Cork County Borough (Cork City) and the county areas of the former poor law unions of Cork, Bandon, Kinsale, Macroom, Midleton and Youghal. The South district, and all health institutions within, was jointly administered by Cork Corporation (5 members) and Cork County Council (10 members) forming the South Cork Board of Public Assistance. This Board was dependent on Cork County Council and Cork Corporation (Cork County Borough Council) for its funding. The aim in setting up the new system "...being to wipe out the abuses of the old system, financial and moral, and establish a new system that will provide better treatment for the poor and sick poor of every class, and result in economy in public administration and be to the advantage of the rate- payers and to the community in general..." (South Cork Board of Public Assistance Minute Book Ref. CBPA/SO/M/001 p.3) The former Cork Union Workhouse and infirmary at Douglas Road, which had been referred to as the 'Cork District Hospital' from c1898 onwards was officially designated by the County Scheme Order, Cork No. 1, 1924. The full list of institutions designated in the South Cork district by the Order was as follows:

“ 1. The South Cork County Home at Cork for aged and infirm persons, chronic invalids, idiots and epileptics. 2. A District Home at Midleton for aged and infirm persons, chronic invalids, idiots and epileptics from such places within the County District as the County Board may decide. 3. The Cork District Hospital at Cork for the treatment of Medical, Surgical and Maternity cases, and cases of infectious and contagious diseases. 4. Cottage Hospitals at Bandon, Cobh, Kinsale, Macroom, Midleton and Youghal, for the treatment of acute Medical, Surgical and Maternity cases, and cases of infectious and contagious diseases. 5. An Auxiliary Home at Bessborough, Blackrock, for such unmarried mothers and their children as the County Board may select. ” (County Scheme Order, Cork No. 1, 1924)

The county homes were intended primarily for the aged and infirm poor, but other classes were also found such as unmarried mothers and orphans.

In 1921, and officially in 1923-1925, Sr. Mary of Mercy O'Keeffe was appointed Matron and Superintendent of Nurses. Training schools were established in general nursing and fever nursing.

On 12 Jan 1925 the South Cork Board of Public Assistance was dissolved by the Minister for Local Government. Cork Corporation and the North and West Boards