Crucial voluntary hospital services must be maintained

Sandra Daly says the voluntary hospital services, which account for almost a third of such facilities in the country, provide an essential diversity in healthcare

Today, nearly one third of hospitals in Ireland are voluntary hospitals, and this sector deserves to be recognised and supported as it plays an integral role in the successful delivery of quality patient care. Mercy University Hospital Cork is one such organisation featuring on the Cork landscape for nearly 160 years and is testament to the power of the voluntary sector. I have had the privilege of being CEO of this value-driven organisation for four years.

Nationally, voluntary hospitals account for just less than 30% of all inpatient care. They are independently governed and owned, and provide services on a non-profit basis. A third of State funding for hospital services is granted to voluntary hospitals (approximately €1.3bn) and the sector employs a comparable number of staff (around 22,000). Voluntary hospitals have strong links with third-level education, a proven track record in health research and innovation, attract strong philanthropic support, and have professional fundraising bodies that foster close relationships with the communities they serve.