Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Last December I stood in this House to plead on behalf of a family whose seven-year-old son, Danny, was terminally ill. They wanted to bring Danny home from hospital to spend his final days with them and his young brothers. This was also Danny’s wish, following prolonged hospital stays. Imagine the anguish and helplessness they felt when they learned that bringing their precious boy home was not possible, that their child’s last wish was being denied because paediatric palliative care services are not available in the south-east region where they live. There was a public outcry.

Meanwhile, there was frenzied activity within the HSE in the region. The spotlight was on it and there was no escaping its glare. It had to act. This ultimately resulted in a full palliative home care package being put in place for the family. This would not have happened for this distraught family had it not been raised in this House.

Danny did come home. He came home just a week before he left this world. At that time, I categorically stated that the trauma inflicted on this family could never be allowed to happen again. Just four months later, it has happened again. In fact, two families are reaching out for help at this time. One family has been forced to publicly highlight their plight in an effort to get paediatric palliative care for their four-year-old daughter. The mother of a terminally ill 11-year-old girl in Tipperary has contacted me regarding her fear that she will not be able to take care of her beautiful daughter in the familiarity of her own home. She is distraught at the prospect of not having her daughter at home for her final hours in the company of her family and friends.

Families have no alternative other than to broadcast their heartache in order to get the support they need. They are forced to spend precious time battling for a service they are entitled to receive. Families should not have to resort to politicians or the media at such a painful and difficult time. It is gut-wrenching to think that the health system allows such failure.

Absolutely nothing has changed in the south-east region with regard to paediatric palliative care. How has this situation been allowed to continue? Why is the south-east region, which comprises south Tipperary, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford, the only area of the country where paediatric palliative care does not exist? The region has an excellent palliative care service for adults, but the needs of terminally ill children and their families are completely overlooked. Something is seriously amiss in the region and it must be addressed.

I would like straight answers to the questions we have posed. Can the Taoiseach give a commitment on behalf of Government that the situation will be rectified for the people of south Tipperary and the south east? I ask him to outline a timeframe in which this will happen.

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