Ruttle Ward

How to Find Us

Ruttle Ward is located on Level 3 in the Main Hospital. Take the lift to Level 3, turn along the corridor to the main ward area and follow the signs for Ruttle Ward.

Description of Ruttle Ward

Ruttle Ward is an acute medical ward caring for patients with respiratory and neurological illnesses. We aim to provide a warm and caring environment where our patients feel safe and part of their plan of care. 

The Ward is named after Sarah Ruttle who was Matron of the Adelaide Hospital from 1859-1872. She was responsible for establishing the first secular training school for nurses in Dublin in the Adelaide. She succeeded Miss Bramwell, a nurse who had served with Florence Nightingale in the Crimea and introduced many changes in the administration of the Hospital and the practice of nursing in the short time she was in Peter Street. These changes were embraced and developed by Ms Ruttle - the success of the nursing school being such that other Dublin hospitals soon followed her example.

Elective Patients

For elective patients please bring in list of current medications on admission.

Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care Services are available for patients. Nursing Staff will arrange for a member of the Pastoral Care Team to visit a patient if required.  

Day of Discharge

Once your discharge day is planned, hospital policy aims to have all patients discharged by 11am. Please think through what arrangements you need to put in place to get home from hospital. On discharge, all patients are given a discharge letter for their G.P. and a prescription. An appointment for follow up will be made if necessary.

Visiting Guidelines

Visitors are regarded as an important part of the patient's day and are very welcome at Tallaght Hospital. Please note Patient safety is our number one priority. We have strict policies on infection prevention and control which apply to everyone: staff, patients and visitors. We would ask all visitors observe the following: 

• Only two visitors permitted to visit at any one time
• The Hospital is a no smoking hospital this includes the use of electronic smoking devices
• To avoid bringing infection into the ward, visitors are asked not to visit if they're suffering from colds, flu or infections
• If you are bringing food into patients, please check with the staff in charge - this is to decrease the risk of food contamination and patients may also be on a restricted diet
• Use visitor toilets rather than patient toilets this reduces the risk of cross-infection
• Please dispose of any litter properly, help us to keep our communal areas and entrances clean. This includes lifts and stairwells
• Please note that for infection control reasons flowers or plants are not permitted
• Please note that visiting during mealtimes is forbidden. This enables patients’ to eat and enjoy their meals uninterrupted, an essential requirement for good nutrition so our patients can recover more quickly. The only exception to this is if you are a carer providing assistance with a patient’s mealtime
• Never bring alcohol or drugs to patients

If you see this symbol when visiting the wards please be aware of its importance. This spiral symbol means that a patient is imminently dying or has died. We would ask all visitors to be respectful and avoid mobile phone use and to be prepared to meet people who are grieving during your time on the ward.

Valuables

We advise all patients not to bring valuables with you during an admission i.e. cash or jewellery. The Hospital is not responsible for patients’ valuables, if kept by the patient. If you do happen to carry cash or items of value with you, there is a patient safe on ward which your nurse can lodge things in.