Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
1375. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his views on a report (details supplied) about dying, death and bereavement during Covid-19; his plans in respect of the four recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14405/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recommendations of the Time to Reflect report are a valuable contribution to the research on death, dying and bereavement during Covid-19. As Minister for Health, I am committed to better end of life care, palliative care and bereavement supports.
National End of Life Survey
The forthcoming National End of Life Survey is part of the National Care Experience Programme, a joint initiative by the Health Information and Quality Authority, the Health Service Executive, and the Department of Health.
This survey asked people who have been bereaved about the end-of-life care provided to their loved ones in hospitals, hospices, nursing homes and in the home, in the last months and days of their life. The aim of the survey is to learn from people’s experiences of end-of-life care in order to improve the services provided both to people who are dying, and to their loved ones.
The National End of Life Survey will be published in April 2024 along with the HSE’s Quality Improvement Plans.
The survey results will provide valuable information on the standard of care provided at end of life, acknowledging what is working well and identifying areas where improvements are needed. The information gathered will inform the development of policy in relation to end-of-life care.
Bereavement Supports
The HSE provide a range of bereavement supports while also working in partnership with the voluntary and community sector. Support is provided in line with the Adult Bereavement Care Pyramid which highlights four levels of support that people may require following a bereavement. Levels of support range from Level 1 (community support, self-help resources) to Level 4 (specialist counselling). For adults requiring Level 3 and 4 supports, the HSE provides bereavement counselling through Counselling in Primary Care across the country.
Responsibility for bereavement counselling and associated services lies across a variety of services areas. The HSE National Counselling Service (NCS) is an essential part of HSE mental health provision and provides a professional, confidential, counselling and psychotherapy service. The service is available in all HSE Community Health areas and operates from over 240 locations throughout Ireland.
The Irish Hospice Foundation in partnership with the HSE provide a bereavement support line which was established in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and is available to the general public. It provides a confidential safe space for individuals who have lost a loved one, friend or colleague, to talk about their loss and grief.
National Palliative Care Policy
A new national palliative care policy is expected to be published shortly. The new policy will reflect the many changes in end-of-life care and best practice over the last twenty years. Palliative care provides care for people who have been diagnosed with a life limiting illness from the time of diagnosis through bereavement and death. This policy considers both the needs of the person with a serious illness and that of their carer. The new policy is focused on improving services and supports for patients, families, and carers. A population-based and needs-based approach to service provision is to be adopted. Services providing different levels of bereavement support should work in collaboration across defined catchment areas. The ongoing development of bereavement services will be supported. Bereavement support will be available in all settings where specialist palliative care is provided.
Budget
There has been a sustained Government commitment to palliative care. The total palliative care budget increased to a total National Service Plan (NSP) allocation in 2024 of €155.5 million.
In 2023, €3.7 million was allocated for new measures in palliative care. The initiatives implemented included the support and development of bereavement support services for parents and families who have experienced the death of a child.
Hospices
I am pleased to announce that all adult hospices are now state funded, as of January 31 2024.
Redesignation of four voluntary hospice providers (Marymount Care Centre, Milford Care Centre, Galway Hospice and St. Francis Hospice) from section 39 to section 38 status has now been completed. This ensures a sustainable and equitable model of funding for specialist palliative care nationally.
€17.6m was allocated for redesignation in National Service Plan (NSP) 2024.
