The National Archives Act, 1986 does not specifically refer to medical records so the National Archives does not currently have any legal obligation to house these collections. However, the Act does permit the accessioning of private collections that warrant long-term preservation.
Accessing private hospital collections
Hospital collections are private collections and access is restricted. They do not fall under the same legal obligations of access as State papers held in the National Archives. They often contain private and personal information, the release of which may breach a patient’s right to privacy.
Please note that researchers must contact the relevant unit in the institution for written permission to access collections.
Hospital collections within the National Archives
The National Archives holds two types of hospital collections. Those where the institution no longer exists and those where the institution or a third party manages access to the archives.
Collections of institutions which no longer exist:
- House of Industry Hospital (PRIV/1267)
- Jervis Street Hospital (PRIV/1268)
- Mercer’s Hospital (PRIV/1269)
- Baggot Street Hospital (Royal City of Dublin Hospital) (PRIV/1272)
- Queen’s Institute of District Nursing in Ireland (PRIV/1274)
- Rathdown Hospital and Dispensary/Monkstown Hospital (PRIV/1273)
- Dublin Corporation TB Scheme (PRIV/1275)
- Stella Maris Nursing Home, Pembroke Street, Dublin 2 (DUB/105)
How to access these collections
Access to these collections is granted on a case by case basis by the National Archives.
Restricted collections:
- Peamount Sanatorium, Dublin (PRIV/997/PS)
- Women’s National Health Association of Ireland (PRIV/1212)
- Meath Hospital (PRIV/1271)
- St Brendan’s Hospital, Grangegorman, Dublin (also known as Richmond Lunatic Asylum) (PRIV/1223)
- Rotunda Hospital (PRIV/1263)
- Coombe Lying-in Hospital (PRIV/1270)
- St Brigid’s Mental Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway (2011/20)
- St Columba’s Mental Hospital, Sligo (97/40)
- St John’s Hospital, Sligo (Sligo County Home) (PRIV/1184)
- St Brendan’s Hospital, Loughrea, County Galway (Galway County Home) (2010/78)
How to access these collections
Access to these collections is only granted with written permission from the institution. Contact us for details of where to direct your access request.