Another step forward in efforts to have new midland hospice built

A significant move forward towards provision of the new Midland Hospice was achieved last week at a meeting in Tullamore of representatives of the local hospice groups in North Westmeath, Tullamore, Laois and Longford.

Agreement was reached to set up as a limited company an “executive group” comprising two representatives of each of the local hospice groups, and speakers identified two sources of potential funding assistance for the €16m project.

The attendance of around 40 opted to set a deadline of the end of this month for the receipt of nominations, with a view to having the first meeting by mid-March.

An independent chairperson is also to be sought, and while the chairperson and hospice representatives are to work in a voluntary capacity, a salaried project manager is to be engaged to run the project.

The move comes just two months after an allocation of €1m was announced for the new hospice by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly. A site adjacent to Tullamore hospital has for some time been earmarked for the Midlands Regional Hospice and architect plans for a 16-bed unit have been commissioned by the Offaly Hospice movement and presented to the HSE.

Veronica Larkin, Mary Cully and Teresa Collentine of the North Westmeath Hospice, attended Tuesday night’s meeting in Tullamore, and Ms Larkin said this week she was excited by the upbeat mood and approach from both volunteers and speakers.

“I came away with a very positive sense from the meeting,” said Ms Larkin, a member of the executive of the North Westmeath Hospice and of the executive of the national group Together for Hospice.

The speakers included Sharon Foley, the head of the Hospice Foundation Aengus O’Connell, principal officer with the Department of Justice, and Sheilagh Reaper-Reynolds, HSE National Lead for Palliatives.

“The meeting agreed that the executive committee members would have a range of relevant competencies – for example financial, legal, engineering, or in building work,” said Ms Larkin.

“Until such time as it gains its full independence, the Estates and Management section within the HSE will support the group; and the group will have to set up its own terms of reference.”

Assurances were given that even after the regional hospice opens, the homecare teams will be kept fully in place and augmented or improved and there will be outreach clinics from the hospice when it is up and running.

“Sheilagh Reaper-Reynolds said: ‘The existing premise of palliative care services that are provided in the region in the home will continue to be provided and will be augmented with outreach clinics from the Midland regional hospice,” Ms Larkin said.

Ms Larkin revealed that Mr O’Connell explained that a potential source for assistance was the Immigrant Investment Fund to which donations are made by foreign investors seeking Irish residency.

Ms Larkin said that the plans which the Offaly Hospice group has funded – once reviewed and finalised – will be submitted for planning permission.

“Significant” money, understood to be in the region of €1m, has been collected for the hospice by the Lions Club in Tullamore.

“It can’t be parted with until a proper legal entity is established; that the proper governance is put in place to build this hospice for the region,” Ms Larkin continued, explaining that the Lions, under the chairmanship of Pat Lalor of Kilbeggan had raised the money through its ‘Hooves for Hospice’ drive.

A further potential source of funding is the UK-based Albert Hunter Trust.

“The Albert Hunter Trust gave money to Mayo and Roscommon Hospice and the chairperson has strong Irish interests,” said Ms Larkin, adding that there have been positive indications from that source already.

Each individual local hospice group will also be making significant contributions.

“But also there will have to be an information and engagement drive undertaken for the public and a full explanation of what will be and a full explanation about what will be available to people from Mullingar, from Longford from this so that they will be feel it is worth their while fundraising and investing in it.”