Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in implementing the five year strategy for palliative care which was published in July 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39302/09]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The 'Medium Term Strategy for the Development of Palliative Care Services' to which the Deputy refers was published by the Health Service Executive in June and is available on the Health Service Executive Website. This framework sets national priorities which have been agreed by all stakeholders based on solid needs analysis to ensure that services do not develop in an ad hoc fashion and that any developments proposed in future reflect areas of greatest need. This methodology ensures an equitable approach to service provision as well as consistency in inputs such as pay and non-pay costs, and staffing levels. The national priorities reflect the gaps that currently exist in particular areas and services and the prioritisation reflects the largest gaps.

When this work was initiated its purpose was to provide a sound planning framework for resource utilisation. It was anticipated that funding for the agreed priorities might be achieved through a combination of reorientation and reconfiguration of existing resources and the identification of additional resource requirements when further funding might come on-stream.

At a meeting following the completion of the report, chaired by the Department of Health and Children and at which the Irish Hospice Foundation, the Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Association of Palliative Care as well as the Health Service Executive were represented, it was agreed that the priorities identified in the Framework should be progressed in the context of reconfiguration and re-allocation of existing resources/services; increasing and developing capacity within existing resources; developing skills in community care and care of the elderly settings specifically in relation to palliative care services; and taking the opportunity afforded by integration to identify ways of enabling the delivery of these agreed national priorities. However, all developments are subject to current budget and economic considerations.

In the years 2006, 2007 and 2008 the Government allocated €21 million new development funding for palliative care. There are now 21 palliative care consultants in post with four vacancies approved for filling, 26 home care teams and nine specialist in-patient units nationwide. Overall spending on palliative care by the HSE in 2008 was €78 million. Palliative care services have developed significantly over the past number of years. Additional in-patient palliative care beds have been opened in existing hospices including six beds in Blackrock Hospice, ten in Milford Hospice, Limerick and an additional four beds in Athlone Hospice which are due to open later this year.

The HSE's August 2009 Performance Report states that the number of patients accessing palliative care services as of the 31 August was 3,612. The majority of these patients were in receipt of home care services (2,917) accounting for 81% of the level of activity reported for the month. Some 323 were in specialist in-patient units, 115 were in receipt of intermediate palliative care in community hospitals and 262 patients were in receipt of day care services.

The provision of appropriate end of life care has been and continues to be a priority for this Government.