The Bon Secours Health System is the largest private hospital network in Ireland. It was formed in 1993 to co-ordinate the health care facilities in Ireland managed by the Roman Catholic Sisters of Bon Secours.

Background

The Congregation of the Sisters of Bon Secours was founded in Paris in 1824. One of the first of the congregations of nursing sisters, its object was to nurse the sick in their own homes. The Archbishop De Quélen gave the group the name – "bon secours" means "good help" in French. Their work soon spread to other French cities such as Lille and Boulogne-Sur-Mer. Catherine O'Ferrall, who was acquainted with their work in Paris, invited the sisters to Ireland.

History

In 1861, four Sisters of Bon Secours arrived in Dublin and established the congregation's first mission outside France. Their in-home nursing included providing care for the particular patients, and assistance with basic needs for other family members. As news of their work spread, they were invited to work in other dioceses. In 2015, the for-profit Bon Secours Health System had about 2,700 staff who worked with 350 medical consultants and saw more than 200,000 patients, making €2.5 million in profit after paying €3 million to the order in rent. In 2019, Bon Secours Health System of Dublin merged with Bon Secours Mercy Health of Cincinnati, Ohio. Together, the health systems have 60,000 employees serving more than 10.5 million people through nearly 50 hospitals, more than 50 home health agencies and senior health and housing facilities. It is owned by the Bon Secours Sisters