, Limerick East): I am aware of the very important contribution of the hospice movement in the provision of in-patient and home care for the terminally ill. The health strategy document, “Shaping a Healthier Future”, Acknowledges the important role that palliative care services in general, and the hospice movement in particular, play in the delivery of services and improvement of the quality of life of terminally ill patients. It is my intention to promote the continued development of such services. Indeed, I was pleased in the current year to provide direct funding in excess of £500,000 towards the development of new services in this sector. In addition the local health boards are continuing to support the delivery of services by the hospice movement on a regional basis.
A major focus of the hospice movement is the provision of services to cancer patients. On taking office, I set as a priority, the development of services to combat cancer. Accordingly, I have established a review group to examine the existing cancer service infrastructure and to prepare a policy statement on the development of services. This group's work will include a review of the role played by palliative care services and the hospice movement throughout the country in respect of cancer patients and set out recommendations for their future development as part of an integrated service to cancer patients. When the proposals of the review group are to hand, I will be in a position to decide on priority areas for development within the palliative care service and hospice movement as a whole.