Calls for expansion of palliative care provision in Longford

Councillor Peggy Nolan says providing specialised medical care for Longford people living with a serious illness has to be prioritised.

In September it was announced that the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore was selected as the site for a new 20-bed specialist palliative care unit. The Midlands Hospice development is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 and will be co-located on a site provided by the HSE at the Midland Regional Hospital.

The HSE are “in general agreement” to provide a single palliative care bed in St Joseph's for the local support for the new 20-bed specialist palliative care unit in Tullamore. Cllr Nolan says this will not meet local demand for palliative care.

Cllr Nolan's motion read: “I am requesting that this Council engage with the HSE and demand the provision of at least four palliative care beds in Longford Town. The fact that fourteen such beds are being placed in Tullamore to serve the needs of Longford is totally unacceptable as there is no transport links to Tullamore.”

The notice of motion was seconded by party colleague Cllr Paul Ross. Cllr Nolan told members she had to wait on data to support her claim for the level of demand for palliative care spaces in St Joseph's before she could bring her motion to the chamber. She said demand for the palliative care bed is influenced by the availability.

Cllr Nolan recounted individual experiences of Longford people who were unable to access the palliative care beds in St Joseph's and had to travel to Dublin hospitals: “This is so cruel and there is no sense of logic to it,” she told members, “The HSE Midland region are allocating 14 to 16 palliative care beds to service Longford in Tullamore, and there is no road or rail links to get there.”

Cllr Ross identified the population increase in the county as a consideration the HSE should make when planning for future health care provisions: “We need everyone behind this, it is a serious issue.”

Cllr Paraic Brady, who is a Longford County Council representative on the HSE Regional Health Forum outlined why the health body were making their determination: “The HSE will tell us that they are providing the beds on the figures they have available at this moment in time. They say the two beds, along with a further two beds in nursing homes, are sufficient for Longford.”

Cllr Nolan responded: “Their figures are skewed. If the Longford Hospice Homecare were not in operation the figures would be very different. The people who use that service should be factored into any assessment. I can't say it strongly enough, we are blessed that people want to spend their last hours in St Joseph's. That is a testament to the level of care they provide.”

The members unanimously agreed to write to the HSE to demand the provision of at least four palliative care beds in Longford Town and to invite them to a meeting with the elected members.