Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this important matter.

Since opening in 1998, the North West Hospice has provided a valuable palliative care inpatient service to the people of counties Sligo and Leitrim, south Donegal and west Cavan, as the Senator outlined. While the quality of care provided continues to be excellent, the specialist inpatient unit no longer meets best practice in maintaining the dignity and privacy of patients and their families due to the physical limitations of the facility, especially in relation to space.

As the Senator will be aware, the HSE's palliative care services three-year development framework 2017-2019 informs the development of adult palliative care services in Ireland. The framework recommended that six existing inpatient units should be redeveloped as all single room patient accommodation to ensure the privacy and dignity of each person and to be in compliance with HIQA standards. North West Hospice was listed as one of the hospices to be redeveloped. Against this background, the HSE is continuing to progress plans to develop a new hospice facility on the existing site of the inpatient unit, located on the grounds of Sligo University Hospital. This will see the inpatient unit increase from the current capacity of eight inpatient beds to 12-bed, single room accommodation.

The new hospice facility will include accommodation for the community palliative care team, outpatient and consultation facilities, administration and management offices and will have meeting room facilities for HSE and community and volunteer activities that support the delivery of specialist inpatient, community and acute palliative care services. This will provide for a more efficient delivery of palliative care services throughout the hospice's target region.

I am advised that HSE estates are managing the capital project on behalf of the hospice to ensure compliance with all relevant HSE protocols and statutory requirements. I understand that HSE estates has received the stage 2a design report and is currently working to finalise the costs of the new build. HSE estates is continuing to work closely with the North West Hospice board on the design of the build and has acknowledged the funding commitment given by the board to bring the design and planning application submission to stage 2b.

When the final design is agreed and costings fully worked out, the planning application will then be submitted to the local authority. It is estimated that planning permission will be in place by the end of quarter 2, 2020. The North West Hospice development is included in the HSE's capital plan.

I want to conclude by acknowledging the commitment of the management and staff of North West Hospice for their continued positive engagement with the HSE during the design and planning process. More important, I thank them for their valuable work in providing high-quality palliative care to people with life-limiting conditions in the north west.