Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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A Government decision was made in October 2022 to approve the re-designation of four adult hospice organisations from section 39 status to section 38. The four hospices are: Galway Hospice, St. Francis Hospice Dublin, Milford Care Centre, and Marymount Hospice.

The re-designation of section 39 service level agreements with the HSE to section 38 agreements is a necessary policy change. This will ensure the continued sustainability and provision of specialist palliative care services across Ireland. It will result in all voluntary specialist palliative care providers for adults being aligned as section 38 organisations.

The re-designation will provide a sustainable model of care for adult specialist palliative care services in Ireland and ensure the provision of these core services into the future. It will provide financial and staffing sustainability to ensure that these providers of adult specialist palliative care services can continue their vital work.

Specialist adult in-patient palliative care services provided by voluntary hospices are unique within the broad range of Section 39 organisations due to the consultant led, complex clinical care they provide. These service providers are supporting people with life limiting illnesses to remain at home and in their communities while receiving specialist palliative care.

A key recommendation of Sláintecare is the provision of universal access to palliative care. Specialist palliative care services provide care to approximately 12,000 patients a year. Approximately 70% of inpatient and 74% of community adult specialist palliative care services are provided by voluntary hospices. The re-designation of these four hospice organisations will ensure that the right care is delivered in the right place and at the right time.

The Department of Health is working in collaboration with our HSE counterparts in progressing this significant piece of work.

As Minister, I am fully committed to the continued development of palliative care services across the country. As part of budget 2023, an allocation of €3.7million has been provided for new measures in palliative care. The new measures to be implemented will enhance the provision of adult and children’s specialist palliative care services across the country and will allow for the commencement of a new palliative care policy for adults due to be published this year. 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.

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 €119 million in 2021. In 2023, the budget is €130.1m.

With regard your question on beds for palliative care patients in Galway, 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.