Waterford Hospice Movement recently held their AGM in the Tower Hotel - where Danette Connolly stepped down as Chairperson and the Board of Directors appointed Barbara Murphy as the new Chairperson of WHM.
Danette’s leadership spanned over 10 years from 2013-2023 and together with former and serving Directors, was crucial in terms of the construction of the Southeast Palliative Care Centre (SEPCC) in partnership with the HSE.
This tenure involved a significant time commitment in terms of the essential formal processes and achieving WHM’s donation of €6m towards its construction costs whilst sustaining the hospice home care services that had been provided by WHM since it was established in 1988.
Danette and her fellow directors give their time generously and voluntarily despite personal commitments including full-time employment. Governance for the community hospice homecare team transferred to the HSE in May 2021 and the SEPCC was formally opened by Minister Donnelly on 7th July 2023.
Barbara Murphy thanked Danette, acknowledging: ‘There is no doubt this legacy is a huge tribute to Danette, her fellow Directors, donors and fundraisers who worked tirelessly for the development of Palliative Care Services. I now look forward to working with the current Directors to continue to provide support and comfort for patients and families of the Palliative Care Services in the SEPCC and at home in the community of County Waterford and South Kilkenny."
The current Board of Directors of WHM are: Barbara Murphy (Chairperson), Colette Byrne, Siobhan Comerford McKenna, Danette Connolly, Finola Cronin, Deirdre Cunningham, Nick Donnelly, Barry Kennedy
