Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 15 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospice Care.

Donal Carey

Ceist:

200 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the £30,000 grant allocated by his Department from lottery funds in May 2000 has not yet been paid to the Cahercallan Community Hospital board in Ennis, County Clare; and whether his Department put any condition on its payment by the Mid-Western Health Board. [26019/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Prior to 2000, Cahercalla Community Hospital was in receipt of an annual grant of £30,000 from my Department's share of the national lottery surplus towards the provision of sub-acute services for the Mid-Western Health Board and the provision of hospice care.

From 2000 onwards, it is intended that Cahercalla Community Hospital will be funded by the Mid-Western Health Board within the context of a service agreement between the board and hospital which will cover sub-acute and palliative care services. A sum of £30,000 was included in the board's determination for 2000 for this purpose. The board recently transferred the funds to Cahercalla hospital on the understanding that the service agreement will be completed in the near future.

Donal Carey

Ceist:

201 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Health and Children if his Department has reviewed the number of hospice beds available in the Mid-Western Health Board area; if that total included the seven beds available at Cahercallan Community Hospital, Ennis, County Clare; and if his Department's policy is to support this humanitarian facility. [26020/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

On foot of the national cancer strategy, there has been significant additional investment in palliative care services. Between 1997 and 1999 an additional £6.5 million has been provided by my Department for the development of palliative care services while in 2000 an additional £3.28 million was provided.

The palliative care services available in the Mid-Western Health Board area includes a consultant-led service for the region based at Milford Care Centre, Limerick, together with palliative care support beds located at the community hospitals and community nursing units. A home-community nursing service is also provided.

It is understood from the board that palliative care support beds in County Clare are to be provided at the community hospital-nursing units at Raheen, Ennistymon and Kilrush. Three palliative care support beds at Cahercalla community hospital constitute the balance of the provision for Clare. These beds have been funded for some time by the board. The funding was increased in the current year from £63,000 per annum to £72,000 per annum, which is in line with the board's average cost for providing a palliative care support bed.

My predecessor established a national advisory committee on palliative care services and it is due to report by the end of 2000. The committee is considering the development of palliative care services at both national and regional levels having regard to the best interests of patients and their families. I understand it is the board's intention to review palliative care service provision in its area in the light of the findings of the national advisory committee.