26th November 2020……….
The “Titanic” Royal City of Dublin hospital is now boarded up and an unpredicted recession, maybe even depression, is forced upon a world who failed to factor in a pandemic related to the coronavirus.
Deaths of Despair are no longer reported in any meaningful debate but what we do hear is daily baffling figures from the Nphet team with the stark warnings that we must comply in order to prevent COVID-19 overwhelming our already stricken health service, which already has massive waiting lists.
What is certain is that 50 people have died from being homeless this year of COVID-19, in the year of 2020, and I report that what was up to recently the addiction wing of this once splendid Baggot Street hospital is now filthy and boarded up. Today, possibly a person who has familiarity with that addiction centre, has placed his tent outside the door. Can you imagine what this means in the days to come when the winter determines nights of freezing cold and often storms of rain and cold.
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Mental Health is Cinderella; it embodies addiction, gambling, anorexia, PTSD. What we should all take account of is that people who are remote working or confined to their homes are potential victims of mental health trauma when COVID-19 is eliminated and that is providing the vaccines work.
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CORONAVIRUS / COVID-19: 9th March 2019 update
THIS HOSPITAL CLOSED SUMMER 2019. IF FACILITIES ARE REQUIRED FOR PEOPLE WHO BECOME INFECTED BY THIS DANGEROUS VIRUS, SOME SAY SIMILAR TO THE SPANISH FLU OF 1918 (WHICH RESULTED IN MORE DEATHS IN YEAR OF 1918 THAN DURING THE 4 YEARS OF WORLD WAR 1); THEN PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE MADE TO HAVE THIS HOSPITAL RE-OPENED AND PREPARED FOR ADEQUATE PROVISION OF INTENSIVE CARE UNITS AND BEDS FOR PATIENTS.
Addendum:
11th December 2019
Dermot McCarthy Rite & Reason article 10th December 2019: Community commitment in heart of Dublin https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/st-andrew-s-resource-centre-fighting-exclusion-reducing-inequality-1.4109575 20 years since St. Andrew’s resource centre established. Surely Baggot Street hospital has the same potential. It was closed in August. The homeless crisis in Dublin ensures in the harsh cold of an early winter that there will be people who are homeless and as happened in Apollo house three years ago, could be given sanctuary in Baggot Street at Christmas to the New Year 2019/2020.
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23rd November 2019 – Delighted to see letter as follows in today’s Irish Times. Too many years of insufficient use of a most historic hospital (The Royal City of Dublin Hospital) on Upper Baggot Street, Dublin 4. Finally in August a note was placed on the door to say all has been transferred to Clonskeagh. It just slipped into obsolesence sadly. The source of this blog post would gladly assist Mr Thompson and others in a mission to provide accommodation for the homeless. https://archiseek.com › 1893-royal-city-of-dublin-hospital-upper-baggot-street-d…
The other night at 7 pm I was walking my dog on Wellington Road; I heard an unusual rustling in an area where there was no light and I met Anne. I asked her if she would like a cup of tea and her first comment was there is no where for her to use the bathroom so she said no to the tea. I settled that matter for her and we had tea, we sat on the bench, we chatted and what a life she had living and training as a nurse in the UK, moving to America and back to Ireland to a fall in circumstances and into homelessness.
Anne Rynne is Christy Moore’s sister and her rendition of this song has not received the notice it merits. She was a guest on Ryan Tubridy, Late Late show. It was 2018 she referred to. Now it is approaching the end of 2019 and homelessness is worse. We know there are too many children, and and an ever increasing number of children who are in homeless situations. We also know that the impact on their mental health at a later stage in life can lead to a life with depression, anxiety and other mental health implications. It is worth listening to this song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzHjBjHnPck
Housing homeless in vacant Buildings Sir, – well done Ian Elliott, Belfast (Letters November 20th) for raising the issue of homelessness at the Canal Bank at Baggot Street, Bridge, Dublin.
He wonders if the vacant Royal City of Dublin hospital premises might be used to house people over the Christmas. He kindly offers his personal assistance if requested, in any effort to help action by “An Taoiseach, his ministers and officials” to take up this idea. We need such lateral thinking and more funds if we want any progress on this issue. – Yours, etc,
IAN THOMPSON: DUBLIN.
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History of constant requests to do something about our most historic building in Upper Baggot Street with an allegiance to its history in health.
MAY 2019
Bus Connect https://www.busconnects.ie/media/…/14-busconnects-cbc-ucd-to-city-centre-final.html threatens Dublin 4 but nobody cares about Baggot Street Hospital; strong rumours are that it is for sale for development purposes. They take away the hospital which trained doctors for the Crimean War, trained nurses and doctors for the Empire; they take away certain gardens in Pembroke Road, and they take what is most precious are the old trees which can life to our environment.
October 20th 2016: The scaffolding appears and all appearances are that the Royal City of Dublin hospital (Baggot Street Community Hospital) has not been sold and the HSE have plans (yet unknown) to re-invigorate this once historic hospital. When this property was placed with Savills for sale, I wrote in the hope that it would be retained as a hospital albeit possibly a public private partnership. I remain very interested to see what is planned, hoping that it retains the market related to health with special attention to psychiatric, neurological, addiction creating a Centre of Excellence. The location over the last few years indicates much recovery in the property market for such a high quality location.
Update: Christmas 2015. News on the street ie Upper Baggot Street Village is that the staff are being re-located and the sale is going ahead. This hospital is part of Irish history and especially this year, the centenary of the Rising, as a WW1 memorial, it should be sold with the proviso that it remains a hospital in a joint venture. This is an ideal time for Ireland to have a museum. Take for example: The Forgotten Story of Groundbreaking American Surgeon Dr. Thomas Dent Mütter http://historynewsnetwork.org/article/161245
Irish Times 16th September 2015 http://www.irishtimes.com/…/baggot-street-hospital-could-generate-14-million-…
War Memorial WW1 Scroll to Dublin 4 http://www.irishwarmemorials.ie/Memorials-Detail?memoId=308
For detailed history relating to 1916 Rising World War 1 use “find ” Royal City of Dublin for factual and most interesting details our part of our medical heritage. http://www.gaelicweb.com/irishampost/year2014/summer/…/featured03.html
Savills : selling agents http://www.savills.ie/regional-offices/dublin—commercial.aspx
Savills Commercial, Dublin. Head Office Commercial and Residential. View full map. Savills Dublin Commercial. 33 Molesworth Street Dublin 2. +353 (0) 1 618 …
The HSE have decided to sell this bedraggled beauty of architecture dating back to 1832. This is about history starting with the British Empire and Dublin as the second City of the British Empire, to the Rising in 1916 and the establishment of the Irish Republic for the 26 counties.
History:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_City_of_Dublin_Hospital.
Professor D Coakley, Trinity College Dublin, and other eminent contributors, have written PDF history about Donnybrook Sandymount and Royal City of Dublin hospital or more often referred to these days as Baggot Street Community Hospital. http://bdshistory.org/annual_record_2008.pdf
Agent Savills is not quoting a guide price but sources close to the HSE are suggesting a valuation of about €14 million for the complex, which occupies a substantial site bounded by Baggot Street, Haddington Road and Eastmoreland Lane.
There is also a second property on Eastmoreland Lane, bringing the overall site to 0.71 of an acre (0.29 of a hectare).
Never a more appropriate time, the week before the 2015 Budget, to place the Royal City of Dublin hospital on the market but now. It is worth viewing the brass plate in the main hall which details all the contributors to the charity that enabled this hospital to serve its community so well. I sincerely hope that the planning authorities ensure that what is of historic importance be retained. It would be an ideal opportunity to have a small Museum about Baggot Street Hospital and its most interesting history. Doctors and nurses trained in this hospital who served in the Crimean War and World War I. What was once the Nurses residence is now now the Dylan Hotel http://www.dylan.ie/on Eastmoreland lane.
Internet, digital, broadband, social media the potential is vast for people and all I can do is quote Jonathan Swift and say
‘Give Vision to the Visionless’.
Congratulations to Mr Jack Dorsey, https://twitter.com/jack a former founder of Twitter on his new appointment as ‘permanent’ CEO of Twitter and especially at a time the Twitter’s Irish Unit returns to profit.
It was rumored that Twitter would locate itself in Upper Baggot Street, Dublin 2, in the Kennedy Wilson http://www.kennedywilson.com/ development but this if the rumour is true means it was unsuccessful. If only Mr Jack Dorsey could take some time with his executives and consider the purchase of this esteemed hospital, it would be beneficial and support the community.
Personally, my vision is a Centre for Excellence based on where Psychiatry merges with Neuroscience and Twitter is integral to this. My case history explains why.
1993 while horse riding in Zimbabwe I fractured my skull. The journey through services makes me a consumer of healthcare and a person with some vision.
Many promises have been made by Politicians concerning this hospital and the provision of community healthcare; this letter dating back to 2009 outlines a negligence and neglect for providing for vulnerable people especially those affected with neurological, psychiatric and addiction health diagnoses. October 5th to October 9th 2015 is Mental Health Week and never more than now is it necessary for their to be a joint venture commitment to tackle the Cinderella of Professions Psychiatry and move forward. Ireland urgently needs a Centre of Excellence and the Royal City of Dublin Hospital has the potential. All we need is Mr Jack Dorsey’s vision and Twitter Ireland.
Tapping Talents and accepting difficult employees
Scary article in the Irish Times today about mental health patients and involuntary ECT https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroconvulsive_therapy at the selection of the Medical Team.
You may think mental health is the glitzy part of the medical profession given the upbeat media coverage of groups involved in suicide, mental health for the youth programmes, and all the not for profit organisations representing people with mental health problems.
But let me assure you, there is a darker side and this headline in the Irish Times deeply concerns me.
Private medicine if you have a psychiatric condition has an element of transparency and ethics but the other side is not transparent. You may say about Regulation but the fact is that the Regulatory body, if you have been blessed with the lucidity to get that far, is made up of the medical profession only. Also if you have mental health problems you need to be alert to the motives of your siblings and family members. This will be more apparent for some with experience of being the defined mental patient – the one who is left to fight the uphill battle and yet be lauded and taunted with the label.
The state provides the services of the Mental Health Commission http://www.mhcirl.ie/ but what can one say about a faceless organisation in Dublin 4 that is only represented by its all encompassing web page and an inability of its personnel to relate to a visit from one of the ‘Tainted’ – yes the “bothered and bewildered” subset of society ranging from homeless, to former prisoners of either mental hospitals our or prisons, to those in community care and humbled by inadequate housing conditions and fear.
The Maudsley Hospital (Psychiatric) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maudsley_Hospital in the UK is a public facility but then diversity in the UK always provides different dimensions.
The Sunday Times article 6th December in the Appointments Section makes interesting reading for those who differ from the so called Norm in Society.
The title simply reads:
‘Make a Maverick your wingman’ and the warning ‘Handle with Care’.
This message is not for the benefit of private only mental health, it ought to equally apply across the board to our public mental health system.
Yes, posting no. 1 – what about Baggot Street, and a Psychiatric Hospital along the lines of John Hopkins Hospital http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/ in the US or the Maudsley in the UK or for that matter along the lines of successful private hospitals like the Priory Group http://www.priorygroup.com/. Where is the transparency in Mental Health in Ireland – yes the visibility factor? The research is hidden away in our Universities and basically after that is presented via conference links worldwide and through networks. The fodder is forgotten to easily.
The appointment section is promoting Vision in those making appointments in employment. It highlights that talented employees can ‘be hard to control, so give them freedom and let them shine’ The article is written by Frank Dillon. He talks about dealing with these employees and the huge problem they can create for management. They often are referred to as unpredictable and loose cannons but why forsake them! Why distance them out of society, condemning them to a form of mental health institutionalisation, when if given the encouragement and scope, they can link into creativity and create economic growth.
John Lennon spoke of Giving Peace a Chance. The Recession is so bad now, we really need to give these Mavericks a chance and who knows!! We are talking about harnessing talent and promoting creativity.
The Budget is this Wednesday. Savage is the word about town. But all I ask is stop the savage onslaught on the needy, look to the well of research done in our Universities over the last 20 years and start using the material more productively and economically. Don’t waste our hidden talent.
Pls note again this was written 2009.
Conclusion:
This was 2009, pre the Budget. Next week is the 2015 Budget and what has been achieved. For mental health yes a proliferation of charities and events but as far as proper public health is concerned, the situations are worse and getting worse.
Professor D Coakley Trinity College Dublin, where are you now? The HSE have deliberately run down the Royal City of Dublin hospital and it is up for sale. They are hoping to get e14 million and then they will probably allocate e5 million to Community Health in South Dublin. We know these endless promises. Where is Minister Kathleen Lynch who knows only too well that if anyone is to be short-changed, it is surely going to be those under the mental health provision http://www.labour.ie/kathleenlynch/. Already this beautiful hospital is stripped of what defined it? Why? Afraid that someone might say this is a World War 1 memorial. We are approaching the centenary of the Easter Rising in 2016. The British Empire capitulated to the Irish Republic and this hospital straddles both.
Vincent by Don McLean; Van Gogh’s haunting paintings. https://youtu.be/oxHnRfhDmrk
15th October 2015
To those who stigmatise people with mental illness, I ask you to re-consider. Therein lies a secret talent waiting to be recognised. There is an exhibition ‘Beyond Irish Outsider Work’, the TV programme is on RTE 1 at 10 pm tonight. I went to this exhibition today and I highly recommend it. Most paintings are sold but the message is strong. Don’t judge people with mental illness, try to see beyond and help them on their pathway.http://www.thecopperhousegallery.com/exhibitions/59/works/image630/
Dr Lisa Butterly. Her painting from ground level to upper storey is exceptional and beyond monetary value. It is art and a narrative that some people will share with her while others will just admire. This woman was interviewed by Ryan Tubridy last Friday on the Late Late show. She exhibited her painting but it merits a visit to the gallery (Copper House Gallery, near Synge Street, Dublin 8) to see this exceptional work of art and narrative. This woman shows us that there is life beyond diagnosis. You may have to take prescribed medications but there is a life. Lisa Butterly left the revolving door of Cinderella mental health hospitalisations at the age of 25, returned to education, first completing her junior cert, followed by her leaving cert, then a BA in Maynooth, a Masters and a PhD. This painting was completed by her at the same time as she was completing her thesis. http://www.historicirishhouses.ie/news-and…/congratulations-dr-lisa-butterly
Brent Pope: Inside Out – Thursday 15 October 2015 – RTÉ …
Thu 15 Oct 2015. Brent Pope: Inside Out. Brent Pope reveals his passion for ‘outsider art‘-pieces by people with no formal training and often living on the …
Mr Brent Pope, I must admit I know nothing about you but I am now aware that you are a world famous Rugby player. Thank you so much for giving your time and initiative to those so often hidden away; this is the art of the heart, the revelations from within the soul. I would ask anyone to spend a little time and watch your programme and learn. Thank you so much and it is my deep wish that we can influence the Cinderella Profession, the Department of Health, Mental Health facilities to move forward. Here is the inspiration for creativity. Michelle Clarke.
22nd October 2015 – Royal City of Dublin hospital or more commonly known as Baggot Street hospital:-
Inquiry: Savills concerning sale. Rumours say it is already sold for apartments and another bar in the area. Savills say it is not sold but there is an appointment of a new sales team and then they await the decision of the HSE to proceed. If you read Savill’s webpage you will note that provision is made for community health care. The HSE expect e14 m and choose to allocate 5m. It should be a % of the price received or a suitable project incorporating the provision of community health, a museum because it is a World War I memorial. It also has a very detailed history relating to the Easter Rising, and the War of Independence. As a community, the sale of this hospital should have the support of people in the area, the Trinity Foundation Trust, Trinity College – Medicine, the Royal College of Surgeons and so many more.
Doctors trained to go to war at the Crimea, to serve World War I
History:
Holden Stodart: volunteer ‘gave his life’ during 1916 rebellion
Apr 26, 2015 – Easter Rising documentary to be screened across the world … gathered and set up at The Royal City of Dublin Hospital at Baggot Street, near a … His lifeless body was carried back to City of Dublin Hospital on Baggot Street.
Casualties in Easter Rising 1916 – Royal Dublin Fusilier
News cutting 1916 Easter Rising wounded Times 6 June … Private Patrick Conway (Donnybrook) taken to City of Dublin Hospital; L/Cpl E Cope (Dublin); 25477 …
I am including this article: Places of note but strikingly for 1916 there is absence of the mention of a hospital. Hospitals were a central point. We all know about the Royal College of Surgeons.
1916 Rising: Dublin 2 street map – The Irish Times
Jun 13, 2015 – Map: Easter Rising: a barricade on Townsend Street, next to Trinity College … a temporary hospital at Dublin; Easter Rising: Mount Street Bridge, where … It was the most central and commanding position in the city, and also …
Inspiration Sources from the period of history in the making : internet
Tedx talks / TedMed talks / Charlie Rose Bloomberg TV, panel chaired by eminent Eric Kandel – The Brain series.
The importance of thinking local … its new meaning! https://adonis49.wordpress.com/2015/10/17/stop-asking-where-im-from-ask-where-im-a-local/
TEDMED
Proper Public Health provision
How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime http://tedmed.com/talks/show?id=293066#.VowumwCSvHY.twitter
October 2016
Nobody knows what is to happen. We can guess. Professor Coughlan, the HSE and others most likely know the facts. This could be bound by a Trust. Buyers may not have been interested in the implications of the Trust. Can we assume the HSE have plans? We know because we can see that the builders are moving in because this week the scaffolding is being put in place.
Boots is the pharmacy who have at all times over all the years been so supportive to my special needs. It is with interest that I read that their parent company in America Walgreens http://www.forbes.com/sites/…/2016/…/walgreens-expands-access-to-mental-health-services/ are looking into the provision of mental health services within the pharmacy context. To me this makes common sense. Too often the community provision of mental health or services to people with addiction takes no account of the person’s physical health including their dental health. We need a Centre of Excellence; we need to tap into research that may have been shelved but which could be endorsed now. I recommend Trinity Horizon Programme 1997, Dr Margaret Fine-Davis, Dr Mary McCarthy, Trinity College Dublin, Professor McKeon and EU Horizon backers. I was one of the first participants in 1997.
Baggot Street needs its history especially as it has become a hub for many international and new companies over the last decade. We need to respect it and people are now realising the plans of BusConnect and they are concerned about the loss to be impossed on a community, a history of renown and the need for preservation of this history.
Michelle Clarke Reviewed 11th December 2019
Reviewed again 9th March 2020
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my heart is sat at “the doctors window” looking out to Baggot street. Is that Patrick Kavanagh or is that Brendon Behan coming from Mooneys pub. Gohsts of the 60s. On their way to Searsons…down the banks of the royal canal.. Okay Rory ready for that pint…what days they were.
Maurice White
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