Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government 2020 is committed to increasing resources for the Children’s Palliative Care Programme. This will be supported by consultants with a special interest in children’s palliative care and children’s outreach nurses to coordinate care for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. When children are at end of life, they and their families deserve the best possible care. It is vital that such care is available when needed either in their home or in a hospital setting. A priority for 2023 is to implement the recommendations from the HSE 2020 report for supporting a model of care for children with life-limiting conditions in the community in Ireland.

There have been significant increases in funding to enhance the provision of children’s palliative care services across Ireland in recent years. Across 2021 and 2022, funding has been allocated for the recruitment of 12.5 additional whole-time equivalents to enhance the provision of children’s palliative care services across acute and community settings. These posts will support the provision of specialist palliative care to children as close to home as possible. Budget 2023 has an allocation of €3.7million to be provided for new measures in palliative care. The new measures will enhance the provision of adult and children’s specialist palliative care services across the country and will include funding to support bereavement services for parents and families who have experienced the death of a child. The Palliative Care Budget increased to a total national service plan allocation in 2022 of €121.9 million from a national service plan allocation of €119m in 2021. In 2023, the budget is €130.1m.

The Specialist Palliative Care team for Children is based in Children’s Hospital Ireland, Crumlin. This team is a consult, advisory and supportive service which works in close liaison with Medical Teams providing care to children in need of palliative care across the country. With regards to children’s palliative care provision in the South Tipperary and South-East area, a sustainable, long-term solution for the provision of such services is under development. There are two clinical nurse co-ordinators for children with life limiting conditions in the South-East who support the provision of safe care in the home. Progress has been made in relation to the recruitment of a Consultant Paediatrician with a specialism in palliative care for the South-East. Community Healthcare Organisations (CHOs) in conjunction with South/South-West Hospital Group and Ireland East Hospital Group are working to ensure a care plan based on patient need is in place. South-East CHO are actively working with Children’s Health Ireland to progress the required supports in line with the Model of Care for children with life limiting conditions. I have been advised that South-East CHO, in association with the relevant hospital groups, continue to engage and support families as required.

The new HSE Service Plan 2023 will underpin further improvements in children’s palliative care services. A multi-agency approach is adopted to provide palliative care to children in their homes. This approach involves: collaboration between primary care, regional paediatricians, and adult community palliative care services - coordinated by the Clinical Nurse Coordinator (CNC) - and supported by paediatric palliative care team located in CHI Crumlin/Temple. One of the cornerstones of children’s palliative care is to facilitate a fully integrated approach to care.

The Department and HSE will continue to progress developments for children’s palliative care services in Ireland, working towards the highest possible quality of end-of-life care and support for children with life limiting illnesses across the country.