The South East Palliative Care Centre was officially opened in Waterford today by the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly T.D.
The Centre was developed for HSE/South East Community Healthcare, as part of the €31.26 million five storey “Dunmore Wing” integrated project, completed on the grounds of University Hospital Waterford (UHW) in 2019.
The South East Palliative Care Centre occupies the ground and first floor of the Dunmore Wing.
The second, third and fourth floors of the Dunmore Wing feature 72 single, inpatient rooms for UHW.
The Waterford Hospice Movement (WHM) contributed €6 million to the South East Palliative Care Centre project and the WHM’s offices are now based in the Centre. The WHM continues to provide patient comforts, equipment, amenities, complementary therapies, counselling and support services for patients and their families known to the South East Palliative Care Service, whether in their own homes or availing of care in the Centre.
The ground floor (Oak Ward) of the South East Palliative Care Centre features 20 inpatient bedrooms (with individual patio gardens) for patients requiring the expertise of a specialist palliative care multidisciplinary team. Day services in palliative medicine, facilities for outpatient appointments and the base of the WHM’s office and the Waterford Community Specialist Palliative Care Team home care service feature on the first floor (Beech Ward).
During the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 onwards, both the ground and first floor of the Dunmore Wing were made available to University Hospital Waterford (UHW)’s for its usage in COVID-19 related care and to assist in the accommodation of other inpatient and outpatient services in the hospital.
The ground and first floor of the Dunmore Wing have since reverted to their intended purposes as the first inpatient and day service specialist palliative care unit for the region. The South East Palliative Care Centre is the hub for palliative care in the South East and builds on the existing Consultant led integrated model of care in place across acute hospitals and community healthcare services.
Staff based at the South East Palliative Care Centre will support Community Specialist Palliative Care Teams across counties Carlow/Kilkenny (based in Aut Even Hospital, Kilkenny), South Tipperary (based in offices on The Quay, Clonmel), Waterford (based in the Centre) and Wexford (based in Ely Hospital, Wexford).
Head of Service/Primary Care for HSE/South East Community Healthcare Anna Marie Lanigan introduced four speakers to address the Official Opening Ceremony: The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly T.D., Chief Officer of HSE/South East Community Healthcare Grace Rothwell, Chairperson of the Waterford Hospice Movement Danette Connolly and Consultant in Palliative Care Medicine/Physician Dr. Brian Creedon.
Mary (Rosemary) Tritchler also very powerfully and movingly spoke on behalf of families whose loved ones availed of the South East Palliative Care Centre prior to their passing.
Speaking at the Official Opening, Minister Donnelly said:
“This Centre is a crucial and much appreciated specialist inpatient and outpatient centre for the South East region. Themes also abound here that are significant to the Sláintecare strategy. The integration of health services, close co-operation of acute hospital and community healthcare services and promotion of Enhanced Community Care are represented in the Centre’s development and the arrangements in its operation.”
“I am keenly aware also, in the years since its completion, of how vital a resource it was to have the ground and first floor of the Dunmore Wing available to University Hospital Waterford. We will forever be grateful for the role played at that time by our health services during a very challenging time.
“Of course, the essence of community healthcare is also at play in now having a South East Palliative Care Centre – linked, as it is, with hospice groups and Community Specialist Palliative Care Teams (homecare groups) in counties Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford.”
“To the Waterford Hospice Movement (WHM), I want to say a special ‘thank you’. Years of its fundraising in Waterford and South Kilkenny went into this and we also remember all of those, no longer with us, who availed of the WHM and HSE’s support. I know how valued the WHM’s supportive care services are in the community and we are delighted to be here with them today officially opening such a facility.”
Chief Officer of HSE/South East Community Healthcare Grace Rothwell said:
“The 2023 budget for our regional, specialist Palliative Care service is just over €8.8 million. There are 69 Whole Time Equivalents employed directly in this Centre directly and a further 30 in the regional Community Specialist Palliative Care service. The fact that all of the HSE’s services in the region, in addition to the outstanding roles played by voluntary committees of organisations across the five counties, will be linked into this state of the art, purpose built facility is an excellence in services we have striven for.”
“I am also conscious that the 20 en-suite rooms with patios in the Oak Ward offer a dignity to patients and families in difficult times for them and is greatly appreciated by all concerned.”
Danette Connolly (Chairperson of the Waterford Hospice Movement) said:
“The Waterford Hospice Movement is renowned for its hospice and home care, delivered to the people of Waterford and South Kilkenny for the past 35 years. This has only been possible due to the phenomenal and consistent support we have received in terms of fundraising. It has also allowed us to achieve our dream of an inpatient specialist palliative care unit in the South East.”
“The South East Palliative Care Centre is a powerful testament to the people of the region and the determination of the past and present members of Waterford Hospice. We look forward to continuing our work as part of the Specialist Palliative Care service for the South East.”
Last updated on: 07 / 07 / 2023
