David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2967. To ask the Minister for Health if and when the palliative care evidence brief will be published. [39723/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Programme for Government commits to updating the Palliative Care policy for adults to reflect the main developments in end-of-life care and international best practice since 2001 and with a view to addressing the interface with children's palliative care. It is envisaged that the new policy will take account of increased demand for adult palliative care, the shift towards care in the community and the emphasis in Sláintecare on addressing geographic variations in the provision of both community and hospital palliative care services.

In order to inform deliberations in relation to the update, my Department has commissioned an evidence brief, produced by the Health Research Board, which describes national adult palliative care policies across four countries: Australia, New Zealand, Scotland and the Netherlands. The Health Research Board do not publish evidence briefs, only evidence reviews, as evidence briefs are working documents and therefore cannot be peer reviewed which is required for publication.

My Department also intends to commission a review of the implementation of the 2001 policy as it relates to adult palliative care in order to identify priority areas that should be addressed in the policy update, including areas of evolving and emerging need, having regard to international developments. My Department is currently in the process of evaluating tender applications for this work.

It is envisaged that a public consultation will be undertaken by my Department prior to commencing work on drafting the policy update.