The Midlands is finally set to get its own Level 3 Hospice. It is proposed that it will be located at The Arden Lane Tullamore and will serve the counties of Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath. This development is supported by the HSE and the Department of Health. Plans for it are currently being considered by Offaly Co Council. The site at The Arden Lane has been gifted to the HSE following their very successful ” Hooves for Hospice” Fundraising Campaign.
Level 3 hospice care enables users to experience highest-level end-of-life care in designed accommodation, designed, staffed and equipped to meet their needs.
The proposed new Level 3 facility will also further enhance the work of the wonderful and dedicated palliative care teams working tirelessly across communities in the four midland counties.
To demonstrate the vital role Level 3 hospices play in end of life care North Westmeath and Laois Hospice groups commissioned a short video that graphically depicts that. In the video, Dr. Michael Cushen, a vastly experienced and greatly respected palliative care consultant, describes the role specialist palliative care staff perform in end of life care and John Shaw, from Raharney, Co. Westmeath describes the excellent care his sister received at Milford Hospice in Limerick and remarks how much more suitable it would have been had she been able to avail of the care she required closer to home.
Further reading
The St. Francis Hospice, Dublin website www.sfh.ie conveys an interesting insight into the role played by a modern, highly regarded level-3 hospice and is worth a visit.
Please feel free to share the link to the video with your community so that we can all stay informed on the progress of this vital facility for our Midlands Region.
