Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

I thank Deputy Walsh for raising this issue and giving me an opportunity to update the House on this matter.

Our policy is to continue to develop and improve palliative care health services in all regions to meet the objective of providing modern, high quality palliative and end of life care services. The development of such services is informed by the report of the National Advisory Committee on Palliative Care 2001 and will be progressed in the context of wider reforms for the health service generally and overall resource availability.

The Health Service Executive has operational responsibility for the delivery of health and social services, including supporting facilities such as Galway hospice. The HSE funds the 12 bed in-patient unit at Galway hospice to the sum of €3.5 million in the current year. This has been reduced from €3.7 million over the past two years, owing to cost containment measures being implemented right across the Galway area. This reduced funding has resulted in a reduction in day-care services from three to two days each week. The funding reduction is part of the continuing challenge to maximise levels of service, while meeting nationally defined cost containment targets. During 2010, 283 patients were cared for in the in-patient unit and 412 patients were cared for at home by the hospice home care team.

The HSE has also supported the hospice in relation to accreditation and ISO quality awards, through funding a full-time practice development co-ordinator, as well as a part-time pharmacist and dietitian. The HSE has enhanced medical provision in recent times through funding an additional registrar post in 2009 and supporting FETAC training of health care assistants through its nursing and midwifery planning and development unit. In addition, the new palliative care suite opened in Tuam community nursing unit in 2009 complements the Galway hospice and primary care teams in the community. The HSE remains committed to filling a third palliative care consultant post with the post holder having sessions in Galway Hospice and Portiuncula. The HSE is at present in the process of exploring options in this regard.

Under the National Framework for Palliative Services 2009-2013, Galway hospice home care team is earmarked for enhanced staffing for home care services. It is also scheduled for a capital development project, possibly on a less constrained site elsewhere, involving an additional 14 beds enhanced day-care facilities, a rehabilitation department and expanded family support and bereavement services. These proposals must be priorities in the context of a national approach to address recognised wider deficiencies in palliative care where there are large areas of the State with no hospice beds and little or nothing in the way of home care services.

The proposed capital development is at an early planning stage and discussions are ongoing regarding funding options, site location and other relevant matters. I understand that this process involved the hospice board working closely with the HSE, particularly in relation to prioritising the capital and revenue implications involved against a very difficult financial background. These discussions also have to take account of other palliative care issues relevant to the region, such as capital projects approved by the national framework for Donegal, Mayo and Sligo, which face similar service and resource pressures.

I thank the Deputy for raising the matter.

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