Mayo Roscommon Hospice's new palliative care unit officially opens to patients

TODAY sees the first patients entering Roscommon Palliative Care Unit.

It comes just over a year after it was launched by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and three years after the opening of Mayo Hospice in Castlebar.

Roscommon Palliative Care Unit has been built on a site purchased by Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation. The eight-bed inpatient unit with full day-care facilities came in under budget at €6.3 million.

Both hospices were developed and paid for by fundraised income (a combined €15.5 million) and are a result of the great support received from the people of Mayo and Roscommon.

Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation has been in existence since 1993 and exists to provide palliative care services to people with life-limiting illnesses and their families in Mayo and Roscommon.

Over the past 30 years the palliative care teams have assisted in the care of over 20,000 patients and their families.

The unit will be under the governance and full operational management of Roscommon University Hospital (RUH). Patients, and their families, will have access to care from a range of specialist medical, nursing and health and social care professionals, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work, dietetics, speech and language therapy and pastoral care.

The Roscommon palliative home care team, which is under the governance of HSE Community Healthcare West, will also be based in the new unit and will work closely with the unit’s inpatient team.

Said Mike Smith, chairperson of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation: “I’m thrilled that Roscommon Hospice is open to the public.

“The Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation is 30 years old this year and what better way to start the year.

“The local community have played a vital part in making it all happen. Palliative care services are so badly needed in Roscommon and I’m delighted the first patients will be welcomed by the staff this week. There is a wonderful team to look after each individual’s needs and we wish all the staff the very best of luck in the Roscommon Hospice.”

Martina Jennings, chief executive, Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, said: “It would not be possible to bring this vital service to the people of Roscommon without the generosity of so many communities across both counties. Everyone involved in fundraising was determined to ensure that patients with life-limiting illnesses from Mayo and Roscommon have the best possible facilities, where they can be cared for with dignity and respect. I’m very proud of what this community has achieved.

“Our palliative care teams in the community saw a significant increase in new patients in 2022, and unfortunately, we expect this trend to continue. We are committed to continuing to fund, support and develop this service and we will need to continue fundraising to keep palliative care services running in the community and at our hospices.

“I want to again thank all of our supporters, volunteers, fundraisers and donors. I am also incredibly grateful to the Saolta University Health Care Group, the HSE and the Department of Health for supporting us and getting it ready to open this week.”

Added Mary Garvey, manager of Roscommon University Hospital: “I would like to thank all of the staff in the hospital who have worked so hard over the past few months in preparing for the opening of the unit. I would also like to thank our colleagues in HSE Support Services and HSE Capital Estates for their assistance.

“We have worked closely with the team in Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, and we are especially grateful to them for their ongoing financial support in providing palliative services in both this unit and in the home care team. We look forward to working with all GPs and healthcare professionals in the region to deliver seamless palliative care to patients and their families.”

Anyone who wishes to make a donation to Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation can do so by logging on to www.hospice.ie or by phoning (094) 9388666 or by calling to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation office on the Main Street in Knock.