Taoiseach support key to sorting funds for hospice

Date Published: {J}

BY ENDA CUNNINGHAM

Interim plans for the expansion of the Galway Hospice are about to be forwarded to the Department of Health, after An Taoiseach Enda Kenny reiterated his full support for the facility.

The Sentinel understands that the short-term plan involves adding six inpatient beds at the hospice, bringing the total number of beds to 18, as well as a commitment to building a state-of-the-art €10m facility on a new site, possibly in Merlin Park.

Apart from the existing funding crisis at the hospice, further HSE funds would be required for the six new beds – while the proposal document will also look at long-term funding.

At a meeting last week, An Taoiseach reiterated his personal commitment that he would honour the dying wish of former Connacht Tribune Group editor John Cunningham – to resolve the financial difficulties of the hospice.

And local Fine Gael TD Brian Walsh said following the meeting with Enda Kenny and Health Minister last week, he is “confident” that the issues facing the hospice will be sorted.

However, the hospice will still rely entirely on fundraising and donations to run their daycare and homecare services – which cost €1.5m each year.

Hospice CEO Sean O’Healy would not be drawn on the details of the interim plan – set to be forwarded to the Department in the coming weeks – but it is understood to include a request for funding for six extra beds, while longer-term plans are put in place.

Three weeks ago, our sister newspaper the Connacht Tribune revealed the hospice is likely to be completely rebuilt on a 10-acre site with up to 56 beds at a cost of around €10m to €12m, as the preferred alternative to building an extension to the existing facility (adding a further 14 beds), which would cost around €21m.

“There is no prospect in the foreseeable future of us moving/building the additional 14 beds. We need an interim solution – small money, big impact.

“He [Dr Reilly] was very receptive and it was a constructive meeting. We decided the approach to take was not just look for money to plug the short-term hole, but to move our services forward.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.