Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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350. To ask the Minister for Health to provide on update on the Programme for Government commitment to Increase the number of specialist palliative care beds countrywide over the five years of government, ensuring that there will be a hospice serving every region in the country since the establishment of the current Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33326/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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With the openings of specialist inpatient palliative care units in Wicklow, Mayo, and Waterford in 2020/2021, CHO8 is now the only community healthcare organisation without at least one specialist palliative care inpatient unit. The HSE in CHO8 has been working on plans for two inpatient units, one in Tullamore, Co. Offaly and one in Drogheda, Co. Louth.

The HSE’s 2017-2019 Palliative Care Development Framework identifies Tullamore, Cavan, and Drogheda as regions where additional hospices are required. With regard to Drogheda, the HSE continues to work on the planning and development of the Drogheda Hospice. This work involves HSE Estates, CHO8, and a 3rd party philanthropist.

Regarding the development of a hospice in the Midlands, a tender competition took place earlier this year to secure the services of a design team for this project. A design team was appointed at the end of May with initial meetings taking place on 20th June and 5th July 2023. The design process is ongoing.

In relation to the delivery of a specialist palliative care unit at St Christopher’s Hospice in Cavan, I have been informed by the HSE that the design for the unit has been agreed by all parties involved and is in the process of being submitted to the County Council for planning permission. It is anticipated that construction works would commence at the earliest Q4 of 2023 or Q1 2024.

Once these planned hospices are open, there will be an inpatient unit in every region of the country, providing specialist palliative care inpatient services for people with complex needs, a hub for the existing specialist palliative community homecare teams and supporting the discharge of patients from acute hospitals.

The Department of Health is currently developing a new palliative care policy for adults to replace the 2001 report. The new policy will reflect the changes in end-of-life care including increased demand for adult palliative care, the shift towards care in the community, the emphasis in Sláintecare on addressing geographic variations in the provision of both community and hospital palliative care services, and developments in international best practice.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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351. To ask the Minister for Health to provide on update on the Programme for Government commitment to support community specialist palliative homecare teams in all HSE areas, fund designated home care packages, and resource specialist palliative care provided in hospices since the establishment of the current Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33327/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Specialist palliative care services are provided by the HSE in conjunction with the voluntary sector. Specialist palliative care multidisciplinary teams deliver integrated care in acute hospitals, specialist palliative care inpatient units (hospices) and in community settings including a person’s home. Specialist palliative care reduces acute hospital admissions and facilitates earlier discharge from hospitals to the community where care is delivered by the palliative care team in accordance with the patient and family’s needs.

Key objectives of the National Service Plan 2023 are to facilitate earlier discharge from hospital of patients who wish to receive end-of-life care in the community in line with their needs and to increase the number of patients receiving night support at home in collaboration with the Irish Cancer Society and Irish Hospice Foundation. 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.

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 HSE’s 2017-2019 Palliative Care Development Framework identifies Tullamore, Cavan, and Drogheda as regions where additional hospices are required. The HSE continues to work with the planning and development of Drogheda Hospice. This work involves HSE Estates, CHO8, and the 3rd party philanthropist.

Regarding the development of a hospice in the Midlands, the HSE is working on developing a costed time lined plan for the hospice. In September 2022, Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced €20m in capital funding for a new specialist palliative care inpatient unit for the Midlands. The Midlands hospice development is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

In relation to the delivery of a specialist palliative care unit at St Christopher’s Hospice in Cavan, I have been informed by the HSE that the design for the unit has been agreed by all parties involved and is in the process of being submitted to the County Council for planning permission. It is anticipated that construction works would commence at the earliest Q4 of 2023 or Q1 2024.

Once these planned hospices are open, there will be an inpatient unit in every region of the country, providing specialist palliative care inpatient services for people with complex needs, a hub for the existing specialist palliative community homecare teams and supporting the discharge of patients from acute hospitals.

The Department of Health is currently developing a new palliative care policy for adults to replace the 2001 report. The new policy will reflect the changes in end-of-life care including increased demand for adult palliative care, the shift towards care in the community, the emphasis in Sláintecare on addressing geographic variations in the provision of both community and hospital palliative care services, and developments in international best practice.

With regard to an update on community specialist palliative homecare teams in all HSE areas and designated home care packages, this has been referred to the HSE as it is a service matter. I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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352. To ask the Minister for Health to provide on update on the Programme for Government commitment to increase resources for the children's palliative care programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33328/23]

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.

Additional resourcing was provided in 2021/2022 to support the Childrens Palliative Care Programme. This included:

• €2.3 million in funding to enhance and develop Laura Lynn’s Children’s Hospice and outreach services. This funding has been used to increase Laura Lynn’s Hospice in the Home Service across Leinster and supported the opening of a new Laura Lynn Hub in Munster.
• 6.5 additional Clinical Nurse Coordinators (CNC’s) were provided to take the total number of CNC’s nationally to 18.5. This will ensure there are two CNC’s in each Community Health Organisation. Currently there are 16 CNC’s in place with 2.5 vacancies.
• 1 Consultant in Paediatric Palliative Medicine and 1 Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Specialist team in Childrens Health Ireland Crumlin. These posts have been recruited.
• The creation of 4 Regional Paediatricians with a Special Interest in Palliative Medicine for Waterford, Cork, Limerick and Galway to enhance regional leadership and support professionals delivering palliative care to children in their home. It’s expected these posts will be recruited in 2023.