Hospice Needed
The Midland region of Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath does not have a Level3 Hospice. However, the decision of the Minster for Health, Mr. Stephen Donnelly TD, in December 2021, to allocate €1million to progress the development of a Regional Hospice in Tullamore means, in effect, that this vital project has become a reality.
A Level 3 Hospice is a specially designed and equipped building where end of life care is provided, by specially trained doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff, to patients most in need of specialist palliative care at the end of their lives.
Level 3 Hospice services are tailored to meet the particular needs of individual patients to enable them to experience the best quality of life for as long as possible. They include:
- Symptoms and pain management; on a residential or day care basis as appropriate.
- Respite care and day care
- Outreach specialist homecare
We already have excellent home care and support services that are provided by local hospice groups. The existing services need to continue and be expanded.
The HSE has decided that the most suitable location for a Regional Level3 Hospice in the Midlands is Tullamore because of its central location within the area to be served. Not all Level 3 services will be delivered from the Level 3 Hospice building. Services that can be provided locally will be provided at satellite units in Athlone, Mullingar and Portlaoise.
The funding model that has been used elsewhere involves the hospice building costs being met by local communities and the considerable on going costs being met by the HSE.
As a community service organisation with fifty years experience in fundraising, Tullamore Lions Club (TLC) is playing a leadership role in creating awareness of the need for a Midland Regional Hospice and in raising funds towards the cost of the Hospice. The Offaly Hospice Foundation set a very important example by committing €500,000 towards the project. In January 2020, Tullamore Lions Club and the Irish Hospice Foundation kick started the fundraising drive by each donating €25,000. The estimated value of the fund at the end of July 2024 is over €1 million.