Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 July 2023
350. 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 current Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33326/23]
View answerWith the openings of specialist inpatient palliative care units in Wicklow, Mayo, and Waterford in 2020/2021, CHO8 is now the only community healthcare organisation without at least one specialist palliative care inpatient unit. The HSE in CHO8 has been working on plans for two inpatient units, one in Tullamore, Co. Offaly and one in Drogheda, Co. Louth.
The HSE’s 2017-2019 Palliative Care Development Framework identifies Tullamore, Cavan, and Drogheda as regions where additional hospices are required. With regard to Drogheda, the HSE continues to work on the planning and development of the Drogheda Hospice. This work involves HSE Estates, CHO8, and a 3rd party philanthropist.
Regarding the development of a hospice in the Midlands, a tender competition took place earlier this year to secure the services of a design team for this project. A design team was appointed at the end of May with initial meetings taking place on 20th June and 5th July 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 for the unit has been agreed by all parties involved and is in the process of being submitted to the County Council for planning permission. It is anticipated that construction works would commence at the earliest Q4 of 2023 or Q1 2024.
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.
The Department of Health is currently developing a new palliative care policy for adults to replace the 2001 report. The new policy will reflect the changes in end-of-life care including increased demand for adult palliative care, the shift towards care in the community, the emphasis in Sláintecare on addressing geographic variations in the provision of both community and hospital palliative care services, and developments in international best practice.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
