Sr Gemma Byrne:SR GEMMA Byrne, who has died aged 81, was one of the founders of the Mater Private Hospital and served as chief executive from the hospital's opening in May 1986 until her retirement in February 1997.
From Bree, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, she was born in 1931,was one of five children of Garrett and Mary Byrne. She was educated at the Mercy Convent, Arklow, Co Wicklow.
She entered Carysfort College, Blackrock, Co Dublin, in 1950 and was professed as a Sister of Mercy in 1955. She studied at the UCD school of physiotherapy from 1955 to 1958. Having qualified as a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, she worked for a year as a clinical physiotherapist at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital.
She then resumed her studies, in London, and in 1961 secured the qualifications necessary to teach physiotherapy. After teaching for three years at UCD, in 1964 she took up the post of superintendent physiotherapist at the Mater’s university hospital. She was later appointed general administrator of the hospital.
From 1972 to 1976 she was leader of the hospital’s Sisters of Mercy community. She continued as hospital administrator until she undertook responsibility for the development of the Mater Private.
This followed the decision to demolish the nursing home that had stood on the corner of Eccles and Dorset streets and which had become hopelessly out of date.
She was closely involved in the management of the new hospital project and became chief executive when it opened in 1986. From the outset, the Mater Private was envisaged as a high-tech hospital, providing the best care and facilities including advanced diagnostic facilities such as computerised tomography, nuclear medicine, diagnostic ultrasound and MRI.
Sr Gemma had an abundance of strength and courage and was determined that the hospital should continue “the healing mission of Christ”. As chief executive she oversaw the introduction of many new treatments and technologies which secured the Mater’s position at the forefront of private healthcare in Ireland.
She sought out top-class consultants, with whom she worked to develop specialist clusters – most notably in cardiac surgery, cardiology and oncology.
Today the hospital houses 180 inpatient beds, seven theatres and a nine-bed intensive-care unit.
However, it was not all plain sailing. During the hospital’s early years, Sr Gemma had to contend with a degree of antipathy in official circles towards private healthcare, as well as finding the means of paying off considerable debts.
She was an exceptional person, respected by colleagues and business associates. Former hospital chairman Brian Joyce remembers her as “persuasive, patient and good at working with people”, someone who “never sought personal recognition and saw her aim of excellence in medical care realised”.
By the time she retired, the hospital’s debts had been cleared. In retirement she worked voluntarily at the Mater’s charity shop on Dorset Street and enjoyed following the fortunes of Manchester United. She died following a long illness at McAuley House, Beaumont.
She is remembered by her community for her “unselfishness, gentleness, kindness, humility and loyalty” and as an able, dedicated and fair administrator.
She is survived by her brother John, sister-in-law Nuala, nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, members of her community, relatives, friends and colleagues.
Sr Gemma Byrne: born January 5th, 1931; died June 16th, 2012.