Dr. Feargal Twomey:

I also have the role of clinical lead for palliative care between the RCPI and the HSE, so I have the ability to answer that question reasonably knowledgeably. The answer to the Deputy's question is that there are differences in the levels of palliative care, but there have been significant developments. There are now 14 inpatient units around the country and three more will open in the years to come. There are differences, however, in practice in, for example, County Kildare, where Dr. O'Shea practises, and in County Kerry, where the Deputy works in his constituency. Excellent work is done in County Kerry by those providing palliative care and they need more support. This is something we are trying to find for them.

Practice differ, however, and the onset of Covid-19 and difficulties with staffing have meant that people have not been able to deliver as much as they could. Fundamentally, we need more resources across healthcare. This comes back to the expectations and willingness of patients and individuals. We are petrified of dying, and this means we do not talk to our family practitioner about our concerns about death and dying until it is quite late. We do not access palliative care, whether delivered by a geriatrician, a GP, a paediatrician or a general physician of any kind, let alone specialist palliative care. The thing is that, as a society, we are so frightened of dying that we will not discuss it.