Send flowers to Letterkenny University Hospital, County Donegal
Letterkenny University Hospital, formerly Letterkenny General, serves most of Donegal. Read this before you order flowers for a patient or for a family member at home.
The hospital behind the old name
Many people in Donegal still call it Letterkenny General Hospital, and that is the name you may remember from older signs and from search results. The hospital changed its name to Letterkenny University Hospital in November 2015. It is a general hospital on the N56 road in Letterkenny, County Donegal, and it is one of the busiest in the country. It is a teaching hospital, with links to the University of Galway, ATU Letterkenny and the Royal College of Surgeons, and it belongs to the Saolta University Health Care Group.
Because patients come from across a large county, many of them have family living far away. Families in Buncrana, Donegal town, Dungloe or Glenties often travel a long way to visit, and relatives abroad may be the ones ordering flowers. That is why it helps to know a few things before you place the order.
A short history of the site
The hospital began as the Letterkenny Union Workhouse and Infirmary, designed by George Wilkinson and opened on Kilmacrennan Road in 1844. It later became Letterkenny District Hospital. Letterkenny General Hospital was built on the same site and was opened by the Tánaiste, Seán MacEntee, in July 1961. A new multi-storey block followed in 1981, and most services are in that building. Some dental, ophthalmic and mental health facilities are across the road in St Conal's Hospital, a large Victorian building on the Kilmacrennan Road.
Knowing this layout helps when you are working out where a person is. If a family member tells you the patient is at St Conal's, that is not the same place as the main wards, and a delivery would need to be addressed differently.
Ring the ward before you order
Hospitals in Ireland make their own rules about flowers, and rules can change from ward to ward. Some units do not accept them at all, especially intensive care, high dependency and areas where patients are very vulnerable. Others allow a small arrangement but not a large bouquet, and some ask relatives to take flowers home. The simplest way to avoid disappointment is to ring the hospital, ask for the ward, and ask whether flowers can be delivered.
When you order, write the patient's full name and the ward, and add a short note to the card so the nurse knows who the gift is from. Patients move between wards, and a delivery for someone who has been transferred may not reach them. If you have any doubt about where the person is today, check with a relative.
Sending flowers to a recovering patient at home
Letterkenny serves a very wide catchment, and many patients go home within days. A bouquet that arrives at the house for the recovery is often the better choice. It will not be in the way of a busy ward, it lasts longer than a few days, and the patient has someone to put it in water. Give the home address with townland and Eircode, which is vital in the Donegal countryside where houses often have names rather than numbers.
If you are sending flowers to the family of a patient, for example after a long stay, a cheerful mixed bouquet in the family home says that you are thinking of them as well.
Local landmarks and the town around the hospital
Letterkenny is nicknamed the Cathedral Town. The Cathedral of St Eunan and St Columba, completed in 1901, is the tallest building in the town and the only Catholic cathedral in County Donegal. It sits close to Conwal Parish Church, parts of which date from the 17th century. The town lies on the River Swilly and, with the nearby city of Derry, acts as a regional gateway for the north-west. ATU Letterkenny is the largest third-level institution in the county.
Visitors to patients often use the town's shopping centres, such as the Courtyard Shopping Centre, the Letterkenny Retail Park and the Letterkenny Shopping Centre, to pick up cards and small gifts. If you want to send something more personal than a card from the hospital shop, flowers ordered online and delivered to the right address are a good alternative.
What to put in the message
A good card for a hospital patient is short and kind. Avoid anything heavy. Say that you are thinking of them, wish them a quick recovery and that you will visit when they are ready. Mention your name clearly, as the patient may not recognise a signature. If the flowers are going to a ward, do not write a phone number or other private details on the card.
Choosing flowers that suit a hospital
Choose a small to medium arrangement with low scent. Strongly scented lilies and freesias can bother patients who feel unwell, and pollen can irritate people with allergies. Roses, gerberas, chrysanthemums and carnations are good, sturdy options. Choose your delivery date for a weekday when the ward is staffed and visitors are expected, and avoid the days when you know the patient is having surgery.
Did you know? Letterkenny General Hospital became Letterkenny University Hospital in November 2015.
Frequently asked questions about flowers to Letterkenny General Hospital
Can I send flowers to Letterkenny University Hospital?
Ring the hospital and ask the ward whether flowers are accepted. Then give the patient's full name and ward when you order, and choose a weekday delivery date.
Is Letterkenny General Hospital the same as Letterkenny University Hospital?
Yes. The hospital was renamed Letterkenny University Hospital in November 2015, but many people still use the old name.
Can I order flowers delivered to a house in Letterkenny?
Yes. Enter the recipient's address with townland and Eircode and choose a delivery date. Home delivery is often the best option for a patient who is recovering.
How do I find a florist in Letterkenny for a hospital gift?
Order online, enter the details of the recipient and choose a date. A local florist makes up the arrangement, and you can write your own card message.