Minister for Health welcomes opening of Wicklow Hospice
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, has welcomed the opening of a new hospice at Magheramore, Co Wicklow today, which will operate under the governance of Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services.
Minister Harris said:
“It’s my great privilege to formally open Wicklow Hospice today. This hospice is a place which will challenge the despair, the darkness and the sadness of ill health and a terminal diagnosis and replace them with hope, light and joy.”
The new hospice, which will receive operational funding from the HSE, consists of a 15 single room specialist palliative care in-patient unit, with day care, outpatient clinics, respite care and access to multi disciplinary specialist services. The specialist palliative care homecare team will also operate from the hospice.
Wicklow is one of three new specialist palliative care in-patient units coming on stream this year. In addition to the 15 palliative care in-patient beds in Wicklow, 14 hospice beds are being provided in Castlebar, Co Mayo and 20 beds within University Hospital Waterford. Six additional beds will also open this year in the recently extended St. Brigid’s Hospice at the Curragh, Co Kildare.
An additional €10 million has been provided in the HSE’s National Service Plan 2020 to cover the revenue costs of staffing these beds, with a view to making them fully operational this year.
Once these units are fully opened, a total of 55 new specialist in-patient palliative care beds will be added to the national network. This will increase the total number of hospice beds in Ireland to 268 by the end of this year, a 35% increase since 2016.
Acknowledging the efforts of Wicklow Hospice Foundation and the volunteers who raised funds for the construction of the new hospice, Minister Harris said:
“Your support means that, for many years to come, this hospice will provide a centre for stability, support and care for members of our community and their families at a time when they need it the most”
ENDS