Magnificent people that keep morale high at a very difficult time.
Much like the general feeling that people have towards our nurses, nobody ever wants to meet the staff at Temple Street because that would probably involve a visit with a sick child.
However, if parents and children do happen to visit the hospital, it's incredibly reassuring to see that every single child is given the best care possible.
During the most recent episode of the Late Late Show, Ryan Tubridy decided to highlight some of the incredible people that make Temple Street so special.
In the discussion, Tubridy was talking to some of the patients that recently stayed in the hospital and after hearing their stories of bravery, courage, and strength, the focus switched to some of the staff.
Prior to the chat, we got to see Tubridy visiting the hospital as he witnessed some of the excellent work being done there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9zMxT14bCw
After hearing stories from former patients like Miles, Ivy, Ruadhan, and Sophia, audiences were then introduced to John Doyle (Head of Support Services), Professor Alan Mortell (Consultant Paediatric Surgeon), Denise Brady (a nurse in the St. Patrick's Ward), Joan Broderick (Clinical Nurse Manager in the Emergency Department,) and Norah McDonnell (Canteen staff).
With over 1,100 staff in Temple Street, these people are just some of the many diligent professionals that keep the hospital going and spirits up.
In fact, a very simple story from Norah when she was working in the canteen showed why Temple Street is so unique.
"A lady came into me one morning - it was early in the morning - and we weren't open, she was looking for a cup of coffee. I could see that she was stressed, so I brought her in and gave her a cup of coffee. I told her that everything would be fine and that the doctors here are great and that her child is going to be fine. I just gave her a hug and she then wrote a post that went viral about how much I comforted her and how happy she was just to get a hug at such a difficult time," she said.
A very simple gesture that can have such a powerful impact.
Despite the obvious feelings of fear and sadness associated with any hospital, it's to the immense credit of the patients and staff at Temple Street that the hospital is consistently seen as a place that's brimming with laughter, generosity and kindness.
As stated in the interview below by Alan and Ciara, the parents of little Ruadhan, they're convinced that their child received the best possible medical care and so much more.
"The medical care in Temple Street is phenomenal but we're convinced that it was the love and emotional support that we got as parents - and also that he (Ruadhan) got (that helped him recover). Any night that we couldn't stay with him, we could trust that they would cuddle him if he was upset," said Alan.
Yes, Temple Street is a hospital that provides the best care possible, but the staff also do their best to make it feel like a home - something that the Irish public greatly respect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHA0QoIC7Ic
Plenty of people had so much admiration for the people that walk through the front doors of Temple Street Children's Hospital.
On Friday night, Tesco Ireland donated €280,000 to Temple Street in an effort to highlight the unbelievable lengths their colleagues have gone to with their fundraising efforts over the past few years.
On that note, donations can still be made to continue and improve this excellent work. Simply text TEMPLE to 50300 to donate €4.
https://twitter.com/Jim_Sheridan/status/1099091694346211328
https://twitter.com/Caolanmcaree/status/1099087159351541777
https://twitter.com/newedleonard/status/1099088188868624385
https://twitter.com/aineodonovanxx/status/1099093313913794561
https://twitter.com/SteppingOnline/status/1099085803127537664
https://twitter.com/cpburns92/status/1099227157849653248
https://twitter.com/maureenmcgourty/status/1099102466627551233
https://twitter.com/paritychick/status/1099094862371143682
https://twitter.com/TescoIrl/status/1099096156267782146
https://twitter.com/TescoIrl/status/1099093982477398016
