Press release
Minister for Health opens public consultation on the National Adult Palliative Care Policy
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, has today announced the public consultation on the National Adult Palliative Care Policy. He made the announcement during a visit to Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services Wicklow Hospice to mark National Palliative Care week.
Minister Donnelly said:
"In line with the Programme for Government, we are planning to update our national palliative care policy for adults next year. We are using an online survey to get the views of the public on how services for people with a serious and progressive illness are delivered, which will inform the policy update. Survey participants will be asked about their awareness of palliative care, their views on current services and future priorities for palliative care services. This survey can be accessed from today and will be open for six weeks closing on 25 October 2021."
Minister Donnelly continued:
"The survey will provide valuable information about the views of the nation on how care for people with a serious and progressive illness is delivered in Ireland and help to shape the development of the update to the Palliative Care Policy for adults. I would urge everybody to take part in the survey. Getting the views of both those who work in the field of palliative care, interested organisations and members of the public is vital to the development of this policy."
The survey is being launched during National Palliative Care Week 2021, which is running from 12 to 18 September. A number of events are being facilitated by the All-Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care during the week, with the objective of increasing public understanding of palliative care and raising awareness of its benefits.
Ireland's existing palliative care policy was published in 2001 and is contained in the Report of the National Advisory Committee on Palliative Care. It was one of the first palliative care policies published in the world and has been regarded very highly internationally.
Subsequently, a dedicated palliative care policy for children was developed and is contained in Palliative care for children with life-limiting conditions in Ireland – A national policy (2009).
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to update the 2001 palliative care policy insofar as it relates to adults, to take account of changes in population demographics and the way the delivery of healthcare has evolved since 2001.
The online survey is available on smartphone, desktop and tablet.