Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses and thank them for their interesting presentations. We know we have a lot to do in this regard. I commend the witnesses on all the hard work they do, of which we are very aware.

A number of points came up again and again in the presentations. A significant one is the unfitness of our hospital system for end-of-life patients and caring for the bereaved. Is there a shortfall in training for end-of-life care and what forms of training do we need to provide? Mr. Nolan was right about the importance of seeing the person beyond their condition of illness and making a connection. Does he imagine that different levels of training would be useful, such as specific techniques and skills in regard to bereavement awareness? Does he believe training for dealing with the bereaved should be part of this?