Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to be given the opportunity to raise this important issue. I seek an update on the planned 12-bed hospice inpatient project for Sligo. For more than three decades, the North West Hospice has been providing wonderful care to people in counties Sligo and Leitrim, south Donegal and west Cavan. The hospice currently provides an inpatient unit, a community palliative care team and a hospice palliative care team. As many people in the north west will be aware, the hospice is planning a significant project, namely, a 12-bed unit along with day care and outpatient facilities. This is a major undertaking on the current hospice site with an estimated cost of €8.5 million. I understand that this project will be funded through a combination of Government funding, financing, corporate support, support from the diaspora and the local community, along with significant donors.

As representatives of the North West Hospice have stated, this project is crucial to cater for the current and future needs of local communities. The current inpatient unit comprises eight beds, three single rooms and a five-bed ward. The 12-bed project will allow for 12 single rooms and I concur with representatives of the hospice that this is essential and vital for the dignity and privacy of patients and their families. I visited a good friend of mine there nearly two years ago and the service, commitment and dignity shown by the staff, doctors and nurses were admirable.

All these services enable patients with life-limiting illnesses to access expert help locally. The North West Hospice serves a population of 110,000. That is why the project is so vital to the region.

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | 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.

Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I pay tribute to everyone who has helped to raise funds for the hospice and I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Sunflower days are the hospice's main fundraising initiatives and the generosity of local people is incredible. Sunflower days raised a staggering €33,000 over two days in June this year. I understand that special plans are being put in place for the 30th year of the sunflower days campaign in 2020. Great work is being done in developing the hospice facilities in this region and only last month, I was delighted to attend the official opening of a new 14-bed hospice in Castlebar under the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation. I am privileged to have worked on the €6 million hospice plan for Roscommon, which is at an advanced stage of planning and is set to open in 2021. I acknowledge the great work that is being done by the North West Hospice, the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation and many hospices around the country. These people are willing to work together and I know the Government will work with all these groups to ensure we get the best possible palliative care for our citizens.

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The purpose of the redevelopment is to provide single rooms that maintain and enhance the dignity and privacy of patients. Ireland has a well-earned reputation for providing high-quality, specialist palliative care thanks to a long-standing positive working relationship between the voluntary and statutory sectors. Collaboration between organisations such as the North West Hospice and the HSE ensure that an integrated approach to palliative care is created, meeting the needs of people across the north west.

I again thank the management and staff of the hospice for the quality care they provide for the people of the north west. The addition of four more inpatient palliative care beds in Sligo is part of a wider move to increase the availability of specialist inpatient palliative care services. There are currently 214 inpatient palliative care beds in hospices at a national level and, by the end of 2020, a further 55 inpatient beds will be opened in hospices in counties Waterford, Wicklow, Kildare and Mayo, bringing the total number of hospice beds to 269.

National palliative care policy seeks to ensure that there is a hospice serving every region. This Government will continue to work with hospice organisations to ensure people with life-limiting conditions throughout the country receive the palliative care they require.