Trevor Sargent
Ceist:61 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health the places in Ireland which are outside the catchment areas for hospice care; and the plans, if any, he has to extend such care to these places. [17052/96]
Written Answers. - Hospice Care.
Limerick East): Palliative care is the continuing active care of patients and their families at a time when the medical expectation is not cure and the primary aim of treatment is no longer to prolong life. Such care can be provided in a number of settings including in-patient hospice units, day hospices, palliative care beds within general hospitals and in the patient's own home by home care teams. Palliative care services are available in each regional health board area and are administered, in the main, by the eight health boards.
The Deputy will be interested to know that the cancer strategy, which I intend to launch in the near future, incorporates a review of the development of hospice care services throughout the country and sets out recommendations for the future development of such services.