A €12 million investment in a new in-patient specialist palliative care facility and the re-development of the Nursing Home at Milford Care Centre has been described by Health Minister Simon Harris as a significant advancement in end-of-life care in the Mid-West region.
The new hospice, which serves Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary, incorporates 34 single bedrooms and four overnight rooms for families. The Health Service Executive (HSE) provided €1.5 million in funding with the balance coming from fundraising, philanthropic support, the Little Company of Mary congregation, corporate and private donations.
The refurbished nursing home, which is part of the Milford Care Centre complex, will, on completion at year end, see an increase in bed capacity from 47 to 69. This part of the project has been self-funded by Milford Care Centre with support from the Little Company of Mary.
Speaking at the official opening of the palliative care facility on Monday, Minister Harris said the new hospice would better meet the needs of the changing model of palliative care, which is more community based.
“As more of us live longer, we need more palliative care services and we are meeting this demand, with expansion of bed capacity and introduction of single occupancy rooms where people’s needs are looked after, and their dignity is respected. These are important aspects of palliative care, placing patients at the centre, and I am confident that the new hospice will result in an even better experience for patients and their families,” he added.
Milford Care Centre board chairman Pat Gilmartin paid tribute to the generosity of the many benefactors who supported the project including the HSE, the JP McManus Foundation, corporate and private donors, including Ei Electronics, Cook Medical, the McAdam family, Maeve Mahony, the Donal Walsh Live Life Foundation, and other private donors.”
Singling out the Little Company of Mary, whose financial contribution spans both the Hospice and the Nursing Home, he added: “As major funders of the nursing home and hospice, and founders of the original Hospice in 1928, they are at the heart and soul of the work of the Hospice; their ethos and philosophy of care underpins the work of the entire team at Milford.”
“Our hope is that the new facilities will empower the team, at all levels, to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of each individual patient we encounter. We are committed to providing services to the highest standards, all linked to our five core principles of justice, compassion, respect, communication and accountability.”
Milford Care Centre chief executive Pat Quinlan said the official opening was the culmination of decades of dedication to providing palliative care in the Mid-West, from the Hospice’s foundation in 1977 when there were only nine hospice beds to its current position where it has 34 beds and an add-on capability of four additional bedrooms.
“We are also pleased to have the additional overnight accommodation for families in the Hospice as palliative care is about caring for the patient but also supporting the family.
“We have witnessed a significant increase in activity levels since we moved into the new Hospice in February; bed occupancy has increased from 83 per cent in 2017 to 89 per cent so far this year. These increased activity levels have warranted us seeking additional funding from the HSE to commission the final four beds on a phased-in basis next year.
“Our focus in 2019 will be on improving and expanding services at our community bases in Ennis, Nenagh, Newcastlewest and Thurles so that they can provide enhanced clinical intervention for patients and families. We are in discussion with the HSE on possible options for shared accommodation and the development of a new Joint Strategic Plan for Palliative Care in the Mid-West.
HSE Mid West Chief Officer Bernard Gloster said the latest developments at the Milford Care Centre was testament to the “well-deserved positive national reputation it has as a provider of both inpatient and home-based palliative care.”
by Tom McCullough
news@limerickpost.ie
