The Waterford Hospice Movement say they welcome the Health Minister's announcement that he'll make an allocation in the Budget to open the new Southeast Palliative Care Centre, but they need more certainty.
Today, in response to questions from Waterford Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane, Simon Harris said an allocation of €300,000 will be provided in the upcoming Budget to commence recruitment for the centre at UHW.
€4.8m is needed to fully staff the facility at the new Dunmore Wing.
The state-of-the-art centre is fully equipped and ready to go and was officially handed over to the HSE in April.
When fully operational, there will be 20 in-patient bedrooms with individual gardens for clients requiring the expertise of a specialist palliative care team.
Chairperson of the Waterford Hospice Movement, Danette Connolly, says they're cautious after so many hold-ups:
"We appreciate the commitment verbally made by the Minister to David Cullinane today but we would like to see a 100 per cent guarantee that this is going to happen."
Waterford Oireachtas members will meet Minister Harris tomorrow to discuss University Hospital Waterford and the palliative care centre.
