Send flowers to St. Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny

About St. Luke's General Hospital

St. Luke's General Hospital is a public hospital in Kilkenny, about 2 km north of the city centre on the R693 road. It opened as Kilkenny County Hospital on 18 December 1941 and is managed by the Ireland East Hospital Group. It provides around 285 beds, of which 228 are in-patient acute beds and 12 are reserved for day cases, with a further 45 beds for in-patient psychiatric care. A new accident and emergency department, an acute medical assessment unit, a day services unit and an education centre were completed in 2016.

For families across County Kilkenny, this is the hospital for most urgent and routine care. Patients may come from the city itself, or from villages and farms across the county, so the person who orders the flowers is often not the person who lives nearest.

Kilkenny, the city beyond the hospital gates

Kilkenny is a city built on both banks of the River Nore, with 27,184 residents at the 2022 census, the thirteenth largest urban centre in Ireland. Visitors know it for Kilkenny Castle, St Canice's Cathedral and its round tower, Rothe House and the Black Abbey. St Mary's Cathedral is the seat of the Catholic Bishop of Ossory, while St Canice's Cathedral is the seat of the Church of Ireland bishop.

The Cat Laughs comedy festival is held at the beginning of June, and Kilkenny Arts Week takes place in the last two weeks of August. The city is also well known for craft and design workshops. Flowers sent to Kilkenny arrive in a city that takes pride in its heritage and its public gardens.

Checking the ward first

Wards at St. Luke's, like wards across the country, can set their own rules on flowers. Telephone the hospital, ask for the ward by name and find out if flowers are accepted that week. Critical care and some other units do not allow them. Infection control, patient allergies and limited space on lockers are the usual reasons.

When you place the order, write the patient's full name and ward in the delivery notes. A card with your name on it lets nurses pass the gift to the right bedside quickly. Remember that patients may be moved between wards, so check again if the person has been in hospital for several days.

Flowers for the home are often the best idea

Many people stay only a few nights, and a bouquet is often more enjoyed at home than on a ward. If you are not certain the ward accepts flowers, order for the patient's home address and choose a delivery date for a day or two after you expect them to be discharged. Include the full name, house number, road, Kilkenny and the Eircode, and mention if the house has a name.

For an elderly patient who lives alone, consider a neighbour or family member who could take the delivery. A plant such as an orchid or a pot of spring bulbs can last for weeks and is easy to look after.

Messages that help

Hospital cards should be short. Wish the patient well, mention that you are thinking of them, and sign off with your name and how you know them. If you do not know the patient well, a card from a team or group of colleagues works nicely, as it spares them from having to reply to many people at once.

What flowers to choose

Choose a small arrangement with sturdy stems. Roses, carnations, freesias in modest numbers and chrysanthemums are practical choices, while heavily scented lilies can be overwhelming in a closed ward. Avoid anything with a lot of loose blossom or pollen. Neutral and bright colours both look well, and a ribbon or a pot that can be carried home easily is a thoughtful touch.

Timing your order

Choose a weekday delivery when the ward is staffed and the patient is awake and likely to receive visitors. If the patient is expecting an operation, a scan or a discharge, ask a relative which day suits best. A flower delivery that arrives at the right moment means more than an elaborate one that arrives when the patient has already gone.

Did you know? St. Luke's General Hospital opened as Kilkenny County Hospital on 18 December 1941.