Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It has taken the heart-breaking case of a seven-year-old boy to bring the need for paediatric palliative care in the south-east region into focus. Last week, I raised the circumstances surrounding the wish of this little boy to return home, as well as his family's efforts to bring him home from hospital to receive end-of-life care. His parents wanted their little man to be in the familiar surroundings of his home, to be with his two brothers and to have precious time surrounded by those he loves and with those who love and cherish him.

Last January, in response to parliamentary question from Deputy Cullinane, HSE south east community healthcare officials wrote “there are a range of services available to support children with palliative care needs ... in the HSE SE region”. The fact is that when this family reached out to avail of that proposed service, they were told that it is not available to them. The reason they were given is that these services are not in place in the area in which they live. They were told that such a vital service has not been available in south Tipperary since 2017. In that same response to which I refer, HSE south east outlined in impressive terms what a paediatric palliative care service provides. The letter refers to primary and social care that is tailored to meet the specific needs of each child. It also refers to a model of care for children having been developed to support children with life-limiting conditions in their own homes. It emphasised that the South/South West Hospital Group and the south east community healthcare group had supported the recruitment of staff to fill additional posts, including a paediatrician with an interest in palliative care, and an expanded outreach nursing service.

Can the Minister of State explain where this service was when it was needed? No family should be forced to publicly plead for palliative care for their child. I would like to know why this happened. I want an honest and straightforward explanation. More important is what the family needs at this time, namely, a solid guarantee that what happened to it will never happen to any other family. Glorified descriptions of what a paediatric palliative care service should provide is cold comfort to families who cannot get that care for their children when it is needed. This is care that a seriously ill child needs and is entitled to receive, regardless of their Eircode postcode.

This courageous little lad is now at home and is receiving the medical and supportive care that he requires. My contention and that of the family is that no parent should have to fight the system to obtain end-of-life care for their child. This little lad received the best possible medical, and eventually palliative, care during his lengthy stays at Children's Health Ireland in Crumlin and in the paediatric ward of Tipperary University Hospital. It is only now, at the most crucial point on his journey, that the system has failed him. Why was a palliative care service not available to this child in the area in which he lives? What is the current situation with paediatric palliative services across the south east, including in south Tipperary? Can the Minister of State say with certainty that every family who is in need of such a service will have it available to them in the future?

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