New end-of-life resource for Laois families and health workers
Midlands Dying Well Group launches new resource directory to support end-of-life care
A new resource directory has been launched to support healthcare workers, individuals, families and communities in navigating palliative care, dying, death and bereavement in Laois and other Midlands counties.
The HSE says the Midlands Dying Well Group officially launched the directory on September 7 during Palliative Care Week to highlight the collaborative work across acute hospitals, community services, residential care settings, mental health services and disability services throughout the Midlands.
The development of the directory arose from findings of the National End of Life Survey (HIQA, 2024) and a subsequent Learning and Development Needs Analysis undertaken by the Midlands Dying Well Group, which is made up of hospice groups in Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath.
The survey was circulated to healthcare workers throughout the Midlands, with the HSE saying the findings identified a need for enhanced education, training and access to practical resources to support healthcare workers in delivering compassionate, person-centred end-of-life care. It is also claimed that many of the educational needs identified by healthcare workers reflected those highlighted by service users and families through the National End of Life Survey.
In response, the Midlands Dying Well Group developed an accessible resource directory that signposts healthcare workers and members of the public to evidence-based information and supports across a range of areas.
The HSE says the directory includes images of each resource, descriptions, web links and QR codes for easy access, along with information on how resources can be obtained and whether they are intended for healthcare workers, members of the public, or both.
Frances Neville is the Clinical Nurse Manager 3, Laois Offaly Specialist Palliative Care Team and Lead of the Midlands Dying Well Group.
"The Midlands Dying Well Resource Directory was developed in response to what healthcare workers told us they needed through our Learning and Development Needs Analysis. We know that conversations around dying, death and bereavement can be challenging for healthcare professionals, patients and families alike. This directory brings together trusted, evidence-based resources in one accessible place, making it easier to find information and support when it is needed most," she said.
Mary Doolan is Chairperson of the Midlands Dying Well Group and the ICPOP Operational Lead Laois/Offaly and co-lead of the initiative.
"Through this collaboration across hospital, community, residential, mental health and disability services, we hope to enhance confidence, knowledge and compassionate care for those navigating end-of-life care and bereavement. The directory supports healthcare workers in accessing resources that can help meet the needs of service users and those important to them. It also provides a valuable source of information, guidance and practical support for members of the public," she said.
Mari Fitzgerald, Patient and Service User Engagement Officer, Integrated Health Area Midlands, also commented.
“This Resource Directory will be invaluable to healthcare workers in terms of signposting the public to a range of services and supports,” she said.
She thanked Joan Slevin who is the public partner representative on the group.
Kate Egan, Director of Public Health Nursing in Laois and Offaly and Margaret Nally, Director of Public Health Nursing in Longford and Westmeath, thanked the Dying Well Group for their work.
“The Directory will be invaluable to public health nurses and community registered general nurses,” she said.
The Midlands Dying Well Group is a collaborative initiative involving healthcare professionals from acute, community, residential care, mental health and disability services who work together to improve experiences of end-of-life care and bereavement support throughout the region.
The launch formed part of Palliative Care Week 2026 activities across the Midlands, which aimed to raise awareness of palliative care and the supports available to individuals and families living with serious illness.
The HSE said the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore and Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise also marked Palliative Care Week 2026 through a series of awareness and educational initiatives, including information stands for staff and the public, as well as lectures exploring the role of palliative care in supporting people living with serious illness. The events aimed to promote greater understanding of palliative care and the supports available to patients and families across the region.
Zara Dagg is the End of Life Care Coordinator at Tullamore and Portlaoise hospitals.
"The theme of Palliative Care Week 2026, 'It's Not What You Think', encouraged people to challenge common misconceptions about palliative care. Many people associate palliative care solely with the last days of life, when in fact it can provide significant support much earlier in a person's illness. Palliative care focuses on helping people live as well as possible by addressing their physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. Through our awareness events and staff education sessions, we hoped to highlight the positive impact palliative care can have on quality of life for individuals and their families."
Areas covered in the new guide include: Palliative care; communication assisted decision-making (Capacity) Act; advance care planning; care of the dying person; care of the deceased person; support for children and teenagers; grief, Loss and bereavement; suicide bereavement; sudden death; death of a child; supports for healthcare workers