Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 July 2023
352. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to provide on update on the Programme for Government commitment to increase resources for the children's palliative care programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33328/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government 2020 is committed to increasing resources for the Children’s Palliative Care Programme. This will be supported by consultants with a special interest in children’s palliative care and children’s outreach nurses to coordinate care for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. When children are at end of life, they and their families deserve the best possible care. It is vital that such care is available when needed either in their home or in a hospital setting. A priority for 2023 is to implement the recommendations from the HSE 2020 report for supporting a model of care for children with life-limiting conditions in the community in Ireland.
There have been significant increases in funding to enhance the provision of children’s palliative care services across Ireland in recent years. Across 2021 and 2022, funding has been allocated for the recruitment of 12.5 additional whole-time equivalents to enhance the provision of children’s palliative care services across acute and community settings. These posts will support the provision of specialist palliative care to children as close to home as possible. Budget 2023 has an allocation of €3.7million to be provided for new measures in palliative care. The new measures will enhance the provision of adult and children’s specialist palliative care services across the country and will include funding to support bereavement services for parents and families who have experienced the death of a child. The Palliative Care Budget increased to a total national service plan allocation in 2022 of €121.9 million from a national service plan allocation of €119m in 2021. In 2023, the budget is €130.1m.
Additional resourcing was provided in 2021/2022 to support the Childrens Palliative Care Programme. This included:
• €2.3 million in funding to enhance and develop Laura Lynn’s Children’s Hospice and outreach services. This funding has been used to increase Laura Lynn’s Hospice in the Home Service across Leinster and supported the opening of a new Laura Lynn Hub in Munster.
• 6.5 additional Clinical Nurse Coordinators (CNC’s) were provided to take the total number of CNC’s nationally to 18.5. This will ensure there are two CNC’s in each Community Health Organisation. Currently there are 16 CNC’s in place with 2.5 vacancies.
• 1 Consultant in Paediatric Palliative Medicine and 1 Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Specialist team in Childrens Health Ireland Crumlin. These posts have been recruited.
• The creation of 4 Regional Paediatricians with a Special Interest in Palliative Medicine for Waterford, Cork, Limerick and Galway to enhance regional leadership and support professionals delivering palliative care to children in their home. It’s expected these posts will be recruited in 2023.
The new HSE Service Plan 2023 will underpin further improvements in children’s palliative care services. A multiagency approach is adopted to provide palliative care to children in their homes. This approach involves: collaboration between primary care, regional paediatricians, and adult community palliative care services - coordinated by the Clinical Nurse Coordinator (CNC) - and supported by paediatric palliative care team located in CHI Crumlin/Temple St. One of the cornerstones of children’s palliative care is to facilitate a fully integrated approach to care.
The Department and HSE will continue to progress developments for children’s palliative care services in Ireland, working towards the highest possible quality of end-of-life care and support for children with life limiting illnesses across the country.
