Donnelly confirms site location for Midlands Hospice

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has confirmed the site location for the new Midlands Hospice, which will serve Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and Longford.

The 20-bed facility will be developed at the ‘Arden Lane’ site in Tullamore, subject to planning permission, and a plan to service the site being completed with twelve months.

Minister Donnelly said:

“I am delighted to confirm the site location for the new Midlands Hospice in Tullamore. The government has already committed capital funding of €20 million to build this hospice, including the 20-bed inpatient facility.

“The new development will provide a hub for the provision of specialist palliative care services across the Midlands, including day care, outpatient, inpatient and community services.

“Palliative care is a crucial part of our health service, providing expert and compassionate care to people who need end-of-life care or who have life-limiting conditions. I was delighted to launch recently the new palliative care strategy and to allocate several million euro in new annual funding. This will in part be able to support palliative care services for the people of the Midlands.”

A number of locations were considered for the development of the new Midlands Hospice. ‘Arden Lane’ has been identified as the highest scoring site via a process run by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Minister Donnelly added:

“My priority now is to ensure that work on the new Midlands Hospice proceeds immediately to deliver this important development for the people of the Midlands.

“I am concerned at any prospect of this project being delayed by years and to address concerns raised with me, I am stipulating that within twelve months, planning for the new hospice at Arden Lane must be granted, along with an agreed road widening plan and funded commitments from the relevant state bodies to bring services to the Arden Lane site.

“Should these criteria not be met, I am instructing my Department and the HSE to revert at that point to the ‘Wellwood’ site, should it still be available, as the designated site.

“I would like to acknowledge the work of local community groups, palliative care professionals, hospice providers, the HSE, and all those who have worked tirelessly to progress a hospice for the Midlands.”

The Minister for Health has today written to the HSE CEO and Regional Executive Officer for HSE Dublin and Midlands outlining the progress that must be made within twelve months, and that officials in the Department of Health will work closely with the HSE to monitor progress on this important infrastructural development on behalf of the people of the Midlands.