Send flowers to Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dublin
Cappagh is Ireland's largest orthopaedic hospital, in Finglas on the north-west edge of Dublin. Most patients come for planned surgery, which changes how and when to send flowers.
About Cappagh in Finglas
The National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh is in Finglas, a north-western suburb of Dublin, and is the largest orthopaedic hospital in Ireland. It is managed by the Ireland East Hospital Group. Finglas lies near Junction 5 of the M50 and close to the N2, mostly in the Dublin 11 postal district, with Glasnevin and Ballymun as its neighbours and Dublin Airport about 7 km to the north. If you are sending flowers there from outside Dublin, give the exact hospital name and the Finglas address.
The hospital is now a major tertiary centre for planned orthopaedic surgery, such as hip and knee operations. It provides elective orthopaedic services for several other Dublin hospitals, including St. Vincent's, the Mater, Beaumont, Connolly, Temple Street Children's University Hospital and the Central Remedial Clinic.
From Cappagh House to a national hospital
The story begins with Lady Martin, widow of Sir Richard Martin, who died in 1907 and left Cappagh House to the Religious Sisters of Charity to provide a school for poor children in the neighbourhood. From 1921 it was used as a convalescent home for children and a training school for nursery nurses. The children there had long-term conditions such as rickets, tuberculosis and malnutrition, and a school opened for them in 1923.
Catherine Cummins, known by her religious name Mother Mary Polycarp, led the early development, organised fundraising and played a major part in turning Cappagh House into an orthopaedic hospital. By the mid-1950s the number of beds and cots had grown from 60 to 260, and an operating suite, X-ray department and physiotherapy department had been added. From 1961 the buildings were adapted to carry out orthopaedic operations. A new post-anaesthetic care unit opened in 2016.
Why planned surgery changes the advice
Most people at Cappagh are admitted on a set date for an operation and go home when they have started to recover. Stays after a joint replacement are generally a few days, though this varies from patient to patient. That means flowers sent to the ward may arrive before the operation, while the patient is nervous and busy, or after they have already gone home.
Ask the patient or a family member for the admission and discharge dates. The best time to send flowers to the hospital, if the ward accepts them, is usually the day after the operation. Even then, a bouquet to the house a few days later often gives more pleasure, when the patient is resting at home and the novelty of visitors has faded.
Ring the ward first
Hospital wards set their own rules, and some areas do not accept flowers at all. Telephone the hospital, ask for the ward and check. If they do accept flowers, supply the patient's full name and the ward name on the order. Patients recovering from orthopaedic surgery often have limited mobility, so a small arrangement that can be placed on a locker or table within reach is better than a large one.
Sending flowers for recovery at home
Recovery after bone and joint surgery can last weeks. A bouquet for the home, delivered a few days after discharge, is a nice way to remind someone that they are not forgotten. Add the full address and the Eircode, and consider the day of the week when the person will be in. Ask a neighbour or relative to take the delivery if the patient cannot get to the door easily.
For longer recoveries, a plant that lasts, a mixed arrangement in a vase and a handwritten card are good choices. Choose flowers that are easy to care for, since a patient with a new hip or knee should not be bending to refill water.
Writing your message
Say you are thinking of them and offer practical help when you can, such as shopping or a lift to a follow-up appointment. Keep the tone positive and simple, and sign your name.
Choosing flowers
Light scent and stable vases are the main rules. Gerberas, alstroemeria, roses and chrysanthemums last well. Avoid tall stems that tip over, and use a heavy vase or a compact bouquet.
Did you know? Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital grew from a convalescent home for children that opened in 1921 at Cappagh House.
Frequently asked questions about flowers to Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital
Can I send flowers to Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital?
Ring the ward and ask first. If flowers are accepted, give the patient's full name and ward. Many people prefer to send them to the home instead.
Where is Cappagh Orthopaedic Hospital?
It is in Finglas, in north-west Dublin, near Junction 5 of the M50. It is managed by the Ireland East Hospital Group.
When is the best time to send flowers to a patient after surgery?
Ask for the admission and discharge dates. Often the best time is a few days after the patient has gone home.
What flowers suit someone recovering from an operation?
Choose a compact bouquet with a light scent and sturdy stems, in a stable vase that is easy to look after.