National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh ( ga, Ospidéal Náisiúnta Ortaipéideach Cheapach), situated in

Finglas Finglas (; ) is a northwestern outer suburb of Dublin, Ireland. It lies close to Junction 5 of the M50 motorway, and the N2 road. Nearby suburbs include Glasnevin and Ballymun; Dublin Airport is to the north. Finglas lies mainly in the posta ...

, Dublin, is the largest

orthopaedic Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics ( alternatively spelt orthopaedics), is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal ...

hospital in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

. It is managed by

Ireland East Hospital Group The Ireland East Hospital Group ( ga, Grúpa Ospidéal Oirthear na hÉireann) is one of the hospital groups established by the Health Service Executive in Ireland. History The grouping of hospitals was announced by the Minister for Health, James ...

History

Lady Martin, widow of Sir Richard Martin, died in 1907 and bequeathed Cappagh House to the

Religious Sisters of Charity The Religious Sisters of Charity or Irish Sisters of Charity is a Roman Catholic religious institute founded by Mary Aikenhead in Ireland on 15 January 1815. Its motto is ('The love Christ urges us on'; ). The institute has its headquarters in Du ...

"to provide a school for poor children in the neighbourhood". However, it was not situated in a populated area and, from 1921, it was used as a convalescent home for children and a training school for nursery nurses. It was occupied by children who needed long-term treatment with illness such as

rickets Rickets is a condition that results in weak or soft bones in children, and is caused by either dietary deficiency or genetic causes. Symptoms include bowed legs, stunted growth, bone pain, large forehead, and trouble sleeping. Complications may ...

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...

, and

malnutrition Malnutrition occurs when an organism gets too few or too many nutrients, resulting in health problems. Specifically, it is "a deficiency, excess, or imbalance of energy, protein and other nutrients" which adversely affects the body's tissues a ...

. A school for the children was opened in 1923. The Hospital was overseen by

Catherine Cummins Catherine Cummins or Mother Mary Polycarp (6 February 1879 – 11 November 1967) was an Irish Sister of Charity nun and founder member of Cappagh Orthopaedic Hospital. Early life Catherine Cummins was born at 22/22a Richmond Street, Dublin on 6 ...

or Mother Polycarp. Building work, up to the mid-1950s, increased the number of beds and cots from 60 to 260, and new operating suite, X-ray department, and a physiotherapy department were added. From the mid-1950s fewer children were admitted following the discoveries of newer medical treatments and the number of beds was reduced to 164, and more beds were used for adults. From 1961 building modifications equipped the hospital to perform orthopaedic operations. It is now a major tertiary orthopaedic hospital, and provides tertiary elective orthopaedic services for the hospitals of the region including St. Vincent's Hospital, Mater Hospital, Beaumont Hospital,

Connolly Hospital The Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown ( ga, Ospidéal Uí Chonghaile Baile Bhlainséir) is a teaching hospital in Blanchardstown, Dublin, Ireland. It is managed by RCSI Hospitals. History The hospital, which was initially established as a tu ...

Temple Street Children's University Hospital Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street ( ga, Sláinte Leanaí Éireann ag Sráid an Teampaill) is a children's hospital located on Temple Street, Dublin, Ireland. It is a teaching hospital of University College Dublin and Trinity College Dubl ...

and the

Central Remedial Clinic The Central Remedial Clinic ( ga, An Príomhchlinic Feabhais), commonly known and referred to as the CRC, is a non-residential national centre established for the care, treatment and development of children and adults with physical disabilities. I ...

. A new post-anesthetic care unit was opened at the hospital in 2016.

References

{{Authority control Hospitals in Fingal Private hospitals in the Republic of Ireland Voluntary hospitals 1921 establishments in Ireland Hospitals established in 1921 Health Service Executive hospitals Catholic hospitals in Europe