Galway fundraising for stroke patients

Patricia and Edward Kenny

On a return visit to St. James’s, where Patricia Kenny had been a patient during illness from stroke during the previous year, Patricia and Edward Kenny presented a generous gift of €2,500 to the hospital for the stroke service. The funds were given by staff at Caragh Precision, Edward’s company in Galway – who had made a collection in the canteen while watching one of the Kenny’s sons having his long rock-star hair cut off – and by teachers and families of the St Therese Montessori School in Loughrea, which is owned by Patricia. The funds were accepted most gratefully by the hospital, which aims to raise €250,000 to develop the stroke service.

Patricia suffered a stroke while at Lourdes in the summer of 2008 and, via other hospitals, she came to St. James’s where she was attended by Dr Joe Harbison. She is still attending physiotherapy but has started to swim and will shortly start to drive again. She speaks most positively about the stroke service at St. James’s and in particular about the positive attitude she encountered: “I will never forget the first time we met Joe. He said to us – ‘You are going to get better.’ They all said I would have to work at it but always the attitude was ‘you are going to get better.” Edward says the family are all so grateful to St. James’s Hospital: “It is very important for us as a family that we can give something back.” 

St. James’s Hospital admits between 400 and 450 stroke patients annually from all over Ireland – more than is admitted to any other hospital in the state. The hospital is focused on supporting stroke patients by developing organised specialist care and, since 2006, has reduced the one month mortality from 18% to 11% and the average length of stay has been reduced by seven days. The hospital aims to fundraise €250,000 before the end of 2010 to provide a range of specialist facilities that will enable further improvements to the stroke service and ensure outcomes consistent with best practice throughout the world.

Up to 10,000 people each year in Ireland suffer stroke. It is the third most common cause of death and the leading cause of disability. However, although it is a highly significant health problem in Ireland, facilities for patients are underdeveloped and outcomes in general are poor.

Contact Us

St. James’s Hospital Foundation
St. James’s Hospital
James’s Street
Dublin 8

Telephone 01 428 4086
Email foundation@stjames.ie