Gillian, Jennifer, Harry, Hugh, Josh and the extended Linehan family would like to most sincerely thank everyone who so generously contributed to the fundraiser created in John’s memory. We would also like to thank the many businesses in Millstreet town that facilitated bucket collections on site in the weeks following John’s death. The generosity of the local community has allowed us to create a legacy in John’s name and also, most importantly, has contributed significantly to the development of cancer services in Cork University Hospital going forward.
It was a very special and emotional week for us as we returned to CUH this week to meet with John’s medical and nursing Oncology team and hospital management to hand over a cheque amounting to €63,000 for funds raised in John’s memory for further development of the Acute Oncology Service.
This nurse led service diverts acutely ill cancer patients away from the A&E to a dedicated Acute Oncology unit thereby ensuring care is delivered by the most appropriate professionals in a safe environment.
The unit was originally opened as a temporary solution to mitigate against the increased risks associated with covid for acutely ill oncology patients who needed to attend the A&E. We have worked with the team in CUH over the last year to advocate for the creation of a permanent unit. We are honoured to have raised funds to help further develop the service and delighted that it will now remain a permanent fixture in CUH dedicated to John’s memory.
In the first year alone, the unit has diverted over one thousand acutely ill cancer patients away from A&E, thereby relieving pressure on the A&E and also reducing the infection risks associated with being in the A&E for extremely high risk patients undergoing cancer treatments.
Being involved in funding this nurse led unit, the first of its type in the country, is a most appropriate tribute to John in recognition of his drive for service improvement in healthcare and his lifelong dedication to nursing as a profession.
It was wonderful for the children to meet so many of the staff who had cared for John over the 6 years of his illness, as well as many of his former colleagues. It was very special for them to hear the many stories that were so affectionately told about their dad from both his nursing and his patient days and to hear the impact he had in improving healthcare within CUH and beyond in his career. The word ‘gentleman’ was used in many of the speeches delivered, as it will always be, when John is spoken of.
We will be eternally grateful to everyone who contributed to the fund we have set up in John’s memory (https://gofund.me/8f649840). We are delighted that funds are still coming in and we shall continue to advocate in John’s name for improvements in cancer care and to work with the team in CUH to fundraise for this wonderful service that did so much to help
improve John’s quality of life and extend his time with us, when both life and time were so very precious to him and for us.
We are honoured that the fundraiser which you have helped us with, has allowed something wonderful and lasting to be created in John’s memory and for that we are eternally grateful.
