Hospice proposal moves to 'detailed planning' phase

The group behind the ambitious bid to build a 16-bed Hospice for the Midlands has confirmed that they are ready to progress to “detailed planning and planning permission” following a number of significant developments over the past week.

Offaly Hospice Committee, which is spearheading the project, has lodged architect plans with the HSE for a 16-bed in-patient hospice unit on the grounds of Tullamore Hospital, on a site which was offered by the HSE.

The plans, funded by Offaly Hospice, are understood to incorporate all of the elements of an updated 2021 Design Brief, compiled by HSE Estates and Palliative Care Consultants from Offaly Hospice, Dr Michael Cushen and Dr Pauline Kane.

Chair of the Hospice Committee, Professor Humphrey O’Connor said the architect plans show that the proposed project “is feasible on the site offered by the HSE” which allows the Offaly Hospice Committee to progress the project to “detailed planning and planning permission”.

This latest progress on the proposed Midlands Hospice comes in the wake of the announcement of a once-off funding allocation of €1m allocation, which was made last week by Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly.

The funding is part of a national allocation of €10m from the Department of Health for palliative and end-of-life care.

In making the funding announcement, the Health Minister acknowledged that the Midlands (Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and Longford) is the only region in the country that does not have a Level 3 Hospice.

In the wake of the Minister’s announcement, the HSE has confirmed that it will proceed “to establishing a Regional Hospice Implementative Group“ and is planning to meet with the hospice groups in the Midlands early in the New Year.

HSE spokesperson, Des O’Flynn, who is Chief Officer, HSE Midlands Louth Meath welcomed Minister Stephen Donnelly’s announcement of funding, and described it as “a significant boost.”

The HSE also thanked the Irish Hospice Foundation, the Midlands Hospice groups and the farming community through the Hooves4Hospice Project for their support towards the provision of a Regional Hospice for the Midlands.

The funding has also been warmly welcomed by the Hooves4Hospice fundraising group, with Project Chairperson, Pat Lalor, stating that Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly, will “long be remembered as the politician who broke the deadlock that, up until now, has prevented the proposed Midland Regional Hospice to move to the important next stage of becoming a live project.”

Looking forward, Mr Lalor expressed the hope that the day would come “in the not too distant future when the people of the Midlands will have their inpatient and outreach palliative care needs met locally”.

He pointed out that “an important milestone has been passed at long last” and said it would “strengthen the resolve” of all those working towards the goal of having the services of a Level 3 hospice located in the Midlands region.

Mr Lalor paid tribute to the “incredible generosity” shown by farmers and many others in getting behind the Hooves4Hospice project, which is being coordinated by Tullamore Lions Club, with the assistance of other Lions Clubs in the Midlands region. Full details of the Hooves 4 Hospice project can be viewed at www.h4h.midlandhospice.ie

The €1m funding announcement has also been welcomed by Laois/Offaly Fianna Fail Deputy, Barry Cowen, who said “palliative care has a very special place in the hearts of many and it’s with deep sadness that I say that the Midlands region of Offaly, Laois, Longford and Westmeath is currently the only region in Ireland that does not have a hospice”.

“This funding announced will go some way in terms of developing the design of a 20-bed palliative care unit with auxiliary services on the selected site at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore.

“My brother and former Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, played an instrumental role in the provision of the Regional Hospital in Tullamore and it is my wish that I can be as instrumental in ensuring this facility becomes a reality. The delivery of a hospice on the grounds of the Regional Hospital has been a key priority of mine for many years and it is something that Fianna Fáil has been spearheading since we re-entered Government in 2020,” Deputy Cowen said.

The funding announced by Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly, will help to progress national priorities, including increasing the equitable access to palliative care services across Ireland.

Funding will also be used to support palliative care services provided by voluntary organisations and support the financial sustainability of the voluntary hospice sector.

Meanwhile, RTE presenter and Laois native, Claire Byrne, visited the site of the proposed Midlands Hospice in Tullamore on Friday of last week, where she was announced as patron of the project.

Ms Byrne’s interest in Hospice care stems from the excellent care her late father, Tom, received from the Laois/Offaly Home Care Team, which allowed him to remain at home with a good quality of life and symptom control throughout his illness.

“Claire also recognises there are critical situations where patients cannot remain at home, and the key gap in the service is the absence of a Specialist Hospice Unit. She will be a very good patron and it is great to have her support” said Professor Humphrey O’Connor.