Steve made history as first patient of Tallaght Hospital

TWENTY-FIVE years ago, Kiltipper resident Steve Sinclair made history as the first patient in Tallaght Hospital when it opened its doors on June 21, 1998.

Mr Sinclair had been transferred from the Meath Hospital as he was receiving treatment following a heart attack.

Now aged 62, the father-of-five’s experience had a particular resonance for him as he was working in the phlebotomy department of the Meath Hospital at the time.

Mr Sinclair was involved in the movement of equipment from the Meath to the new facility in Tallaght, and he didn’t expect that he would become a patient during the handover process.

“I was working as staff in the Meath Hospital,” he told The Echo.

“I worked as a secretary in the phlebotomy lab and part of that included doing preparation for the move, like moving equipment.

“Then I had a heart attack, got some stints in, returned to work, started getting chest pains and went back to hospital.”

It was at this point that Mr Sinclair was again admitted to the Meath, and shortly thereafter was transferred as the first patient admitted to Tallaght Hospital, then called the Adelaide and Meath Hospital incorporating the National Children’s Hospital (AMNCH).

“I was meant to be in the hospital as part of the moving team, but I ended up going in as part of the furniture,” added Mr Sinclair.

“I thought the hospital was gorgeous, and compared to the old facilities in the Meath, it was a huge hospital.

“It was very modern and well laid-out. It wasn’t gloomy or depressing, there was a lot of open space.

“I was in recovery at that stage, so I was only in hospital for a couple of weeks before going home with clinical supervision.”

Mr Sinclair had already lived in Tallaght for several years by the time the hospital opened, and as the population continued to grow, he saw first-hand how a hospital was badly needed in the area.

“I was glad when the hospital opened, because I’d lived in Tallaght for a long time prior to the hospital opening and a hospital was desperately needed in the area,” he said.

Health-wise, Mr Sinclair said he’s doing well and that he underwent a double by-pass three years ago and has been diagnosed with coronary artery disease.

He recently returned to Tallaght University Hospital as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations, where he held a flag marking the milestone alongside hospital staff.

“I hadn’t been back to Tallaght Hospital for a good while,” said Mr Sinclair. “I saw the new buildings at the entrance and its expansion and growth.

“When the three hospitals closed [the Adelaide, Meath and National Children’s hospitals], I think it reduced the bed count in Dublin by 150.

“So when Tallaght Hospital opened it reduced capacity, but they’ve increased that now.”

When the hospital opened it had 450 beds, and in the intervening years capacity has grown to 562 beds.

Mr Sinclair was one of 115 patients from the Adelaide, Meath and National Children’s hospitals who were transferred when AMNCH, later named Tallaght Hospital, opened.

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