Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2024
679. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if will he publish the updated HSE palliative care strategy as a matter of urgency in line with recommendation 12 of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Assisted Dying report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16195/24]
View answerPublication of a new national palliative care policy is a Programme for Government commitment. It is expected to be published in the coming months.
The new policy will consider both the needs of the person with a serious illness and that of their carer. It will address service demands arising from the projected increase in Ireland’s older population, and the number of people with life limiting conditions who would benefit from palliative care.
The policy sets out a future vision for palliative care in Ireland. It 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 on Sláintecare to address geographic variations in the provision of both community and hospital palliative care services; and developments in international best practice.
