Send flowers to a patient at St Luke's Hospital, Rathgar
St Luke's Hospital is a radiation oncology hospital on Highfield Road in Rathgar, Dublin 6. Ring first, as many patients attend as outpatients.
About St Luke's Hospital
St Luke's Hospital stands on Highfield Road in Rathgar, a suburb about three kilometres south of Dublin city centre. It specialises in cancer treatment and is part of St Luke's Radiation Oncology, which also runs radiation centres on the campuses of Beaumont Hospital and St James's Hospital. According to the hospital's own history page, St Luke's first opened its doors more than 65 years ago, and the three centres now operate as one service with a single management team. The service has invested heavily in radiotherapy technology and treats around 5,000 new cases a year across the three centres.
Many people who visit St Luke's attend as outpatients for a course of radiotherapy, with daily visits over several weeks, and go home between appointments. For that reason, it is worth checking with the family whether the person is staying in a ward or travelling in each day.
Where patients stay
Patients who are admitted to a ward are contacted by phone the day before their admission date. The hospital also has Oakland Lodge, on the grounds in Rathgar, which acts as a home from home for patients who live far away. The lodge is a five-day unit, open Monday to Friday, with no nursing service, and only some patients are eligible. So if a friend is staying at the lodge, a bouquet will go to a more homely space, but you still need to ask the hospital how to arrange delivery.
The hospital's information for patients asks them to bring toiletries, night clothes, a dressing gown and enclosed slippers in a small bag, and it states that it cannot accept responsibility for the loss of personal property. A bouquet with a vase is another thing to carry in and out, so choose something compact.
Ringing the hospital first
Because patients may be on a ward, at the lodge or at one of the other two centres, ring St Luke's before you order and ask where the person is. Quote the patient's full name and the ward, and follow the advice you are given about flowers. Treatment areas and some wards do not take them. If flowers are not welcome, a card, a book or a small plant for the lodge or for home is a lovely alternative.
Treatment for cancer can lower a person's resistance to infection, and strong scents can make nausea worse. So keep the arrangement light: pale roses, freesias without too much perfume, or a small pot of hyacinth bulbs is better than a big bunch of lilies. Always leave the choice to the patient where you can, and ask a relative which colours they love.
The Rathgar neighbourhood
Rathgar was once a village and became a suburb of Dublin in 1930. It is a largely residential area of red-brick Georgian and Victorian terraces, and much of it lies within an architectural conservation zone. Dodder Park is in Rathgar, and the nearest Luas Green Line stops are Cowper and Milltown. Christ Church Rathgar stands at the junction of Rathgar Road and Highfield Road, and the Catholic church of the Three Patrons on Rathgar Road is known as the Servants' Church.
The hospital sits among these quiet streets, so a florist's van can reach it easily, though parking on Highfield Road may be limited. Mount Carmel Community Hospital on Orwell Road, a short-stay nursing home since 2015, is another nearby healthcare site, so confirm the name of the hospital before you order.
Words that help
A card matters as much as flowers for someone in treatment. Avoid advice or phrases that sound like orders, such as stay strong, and write about shared memories or what you plan to do together when they are better. Short notes work well because they are easy to reread on tired days.
If the patient has a long course of treatment ahead, consider sending small posies over several weeks rather than one large arrangement. A fresh posy at the start, middle and end of treatment shows that you are still there for them. For a person at home, add a mobile number and choose the delivery date with the family.
Sending to a home near Rathgar
The patient may live in Rathgar, Terenure, Rathmines or further out in Dublin. Include the Eircode, the flat number if it is a conversion of a large house, and a mobile number for the courier. In Georgian terraces, many houses are split into apartments with shared doors, so a clear line about which bell to ring saves a missed delivery.
Did you know? St Luke's Hospital in Rathgar opened more than 65 years ago and now forms one radiotherapy service with centres at Beaumont and St James's hospitals.
Frequently asked questions about flowers to St. Luke's Hospital, Rathgar
Can I send flowers to St Luke's Hospital in Rathgar?
Ring the hospital first and ask where the patient is, since some patients are outpatients or stay at the lodge. Give the patient's full name and the ward, and follow the advice about flowers.
Where is St Luke's Hospital?
It is on Highfield Road in Rathgar, Dublin 6, about three kilometres south of the city centre. The nearest Luas Green Line stops are Cowper and Milltown.
Which flowers are suitable for someone in cancer treatment?
Choose lightly scented flowers such as pale roses or freesias in a compact arrangement, and avoid strongly perfumed lilies. A card or a small plant is a good alternative.
What if the patient only visits for treatment?
Send the bouquet to their home instead, with a delivery date agreed with the family. Many patients attend each day for radiotherapy and go home afterwards.