Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2024
577. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to provide on update on the Programme for Government commitment to increase the number of specialist palliative care beds countrywide over the five years of government, ensuring that there will be a hospice serving every region in the country, since the establishment of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2461/24]
View answerSince 2020, there have been new openings of specialist inpatient palliative care units in Wicklow (15 beds), Mayo (12 beds), and Waterford (20 beds). This means that CHO8 is now the only community healthcare organisation without at least one specialist palliative care inpatient unit.
In December 2021, I announced €10million in once-off funding to support a number of voluntary organisations including members of the voluntary hospice group and national organisations involved in end-of-life and bereavement care. €3million of this funding was allocated to progress plans for three new hospices in the Midlands, Drogheda and Cavan.
This provision of €1million for each of these three new hospice developments will be used for the development of architectural plans, the planning application processes and to commence early ground works as appropriate for the Cavan, Midlands and Drogheda developments. Funding has been released to the CHOs for drawdown as required.
With regard to Drogheda, the HSE continues to work with Newgrange Hospice Charity on the planning and development of the Drogheda Hospice. This work involves HSE Estates, CHO8 and the Newgrange Hospice Charity.
In September 2022, an Taoiseach Micheál Martin, announced €20million in capital funding for the development of a 20-bed specialist palliative care inpatient unit in Tullamore. The development will provide a hub for the provision of specialist palliative care services across the Midlands, including day care, outpatient, inpatient and community services. A tender competition took place in 2023 to secure the services of a design team for this project. A design team was appointed at the end of May 2023. The design process is ongoing.
In relation to the delivery of a specialist palliative care unit at St Christopher’s Hospice in Cavan, I have been informed by the HSE that the design of the hospice has been agreed by the Architects, Trustees and HSE Personnel (Estates, National Representatives and Service providers). Full planning permission has been granted by Cavan County Council for this build. Following the tendering process and selection of successful builders, it is anticipated that construction would commence in Q1 of 2024. Capital funding of 4 million euro has been successfully secured in the first instance to enable this project.
Once these planned hospices are open, there will be an inpatient unit in every region of the country, providing specialist palliative care inpatient services for people with complex needs, a hub for the existing specialist palliative community homecare teams and supporting the discharge of patients from acute hospitals.
At the beginning of 2021 the HSE announced an additional €10.68 million in recurring annual funding for the voluntary hospice sector from 2021 onwards. Funding was allocated to hospices that make up the Voluntary Hospice Group: Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services, Harold’s Cross, Blackrock and Wicklow; St Francis Hospice, Raheny and Blanchardstown; Marymount Hospice, Cork; Milford Care Centre, Limerick; North West Hospice, Sligo; and Galway Hospice.
The redesignation of the four adult hospice organisations (Milford, Marymount, Galway and St. Francis) from Section 39 service level agreements with the Health Service Executive (HSE) to Section 38 agreements will take place this February 2024. The redesignation will provide a sustainable model of care for adult specialist palliative care services in Ireland and ensure the provision of these core services into the future. The government is providing a total of €18.6 million to achieve this.
