New Midlands hospice to bring specialist end-of-life care closer to home
The HSE has confirmed that Offaly County Council has officially approved planning permission for a 20-bed Midlands Specialist Palliative Care Unit on Arden Lane in Tullamore, marking a transformative step in delivering vital hospice services to the Midlands region.
"This decision ensures that the long-awaited hospice facility will become a reality, addressing a critical gap in specialist inpatient palliative care for Laois, Offaly, Longford, and Westmeath," the HSE stated on Monday, announcing that the Government has committed €24 million in capital funding to support the development of the facility, reinforcing its pledge to improve access to high-quality end-of-life care.
The project will, the statement said, provide compassionate, specialist care closer to home for families across the Midlands.
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, Minister for Health has warmly welcomed the approval of planning for the Midlands Hospice.
"This is an important milestone in delivering on the Government’s €24 million capital commitment. I am so grateful to all involved, many of whom I met when I visited in April of last year," she said.
"We will continue to invest in palliative care services to ensure equitable access and the highest standards of care for people and families across Ireland.”
Describing the decision as "a landmark moment for healthcare in the midlands", Kate Killeen White, Regional Executive Officer (REO), HSE Dublin and Midlands said the hospice would ensure that people with life-limiting illnesses receive the dignity, comfort, and specialist care they deserve.
"This achievement reflects years of advocacy and collaboration among local hospice groups and community initiatives," she said.
"We acknowledge the five hospice groups in the region — Laois Hospice, Longford Hospice, North Westmeath Hospice, Offaly Hospice, and South Westmeath Hospice — whose volunteers have fundraised tirelessly for palliative care initiatives.
"innovative campaigns such as Hooves-4-Hospice, led by the Lions Club, and the Irish Hospice Foundation’s advocacy and research have been pivotal in keeping this project at the forefront of healthcare priorities."
Joseph Ruane, Head of Primary Care HSE Midlands remarked that the Midlands has long been one of the only regions in Ireland without a specialist inpatient palliative care unit: "This development will close a critical gap in service provision, enhance quality of life for patients and families, and strengthen community-based and inpatient palliative care," he said, before going on to thank and acknowledge the work and support of successive Ministers of Health, all hospice and associated groups throughout the midlands and nationally and the locally elected representatives (past and present) who had been so steadfastly supportive of this development over many years.
"It truly is a significant milestone for this project and for the Midlands population we serve."
The new hospice ia to include twenty inpatient beds; a day therapy unit, an education centre and modern car parking and EV charging facilities.