Written answers
Tuesday, 8 October 2019
Department of Health
Palliative Care Services
James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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220. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the availability of palliative care here by LHOs in tabular form; the recommended locations for palliative care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40645/19]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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At present, there are 214 specialist palliative care or hospice beds in 10 locations nationwide, as set out in the following table. The number of hospice beds has increased by 44% over the past five years.
| CHO | Service | Number of beds |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North West Hospice, Sligo | 8 |
| 2 | Galway Hospice, Galway | 18 |
| 3 | Milford Care Centre, Limerick | 30 |
| 4 | Marymount Hospice, Cork | 44 |
| 4 | Kerry Hospice, Tralee | 15 |
| 6 | Our Lady's Hospice and Care Services, Blackrock | 12 |
| 7 | Our Lady's Hospice and Care Services, Harold's Cross | 36 |
| 7 | St. Brigid's Hospice, Kildare | 8 |
| 9 | St. Francis' Hospice, Raheny | 19 |
| 9 | St. Francis' Hospice, Blanchardstown | 24 |
| Total | 214 |
The HSE’s 2019 National Service Plan commits to the full extension of service at St. Brigid's Hospice, Kildare and to preparing three new inpatient units in Mayo, Waterford and Wicklow for opening in 2020. These developments will increase the number of hospice beds by 55.
A further three units are proposed for development in the coming years, serving people with specialist palliative care needs in the Midlands and Border regions. Once these inpatient units are opened, there will be at least one hospice in every CHO region.
All HSE areas have Community Specialist Palliative Home Care Teams, while palliative care is also provided in 38 acute hospitals and through support beds in locations across the country.
I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy on the provision of palliative care by LHO as soon as possible.
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