The South East Palliative Care Centre was officially opened in Waterford today (Friday) by the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly T.D.
The Centre was developed for HSE/South East Community Healthcare, as part of the €31.26 million five storey Dunmore Wing integrated project, completed on the grounds of University Hospital Waterford (UHW) in 2019.
The South East Palliative Care Centre occupies the ground and first floor of the Dunmore Wing.
The second, third and fourth floors of the Dunmore Wing feature 72 single, inpatient rooms for UHW.
The Waterford Hospice Movement (WHM) contributed €6 million to the South East Palliative Care Centre project and the WHM’s offices are now based in the Centre. The WHM continues to provide patient comforts, equipment, amenities, complementary therapies, counselling and support services for patients and their families known to the South East Palliative Care Service, whether in their own homes or availing of care in the Centre.
The ground floor (Oak Ward) of the South East Palliative Care Centre features 20 inpatient bedrooms (with individual patio gardens) for patients requiring the expertise of a specialist palliative care multidisciplinary team. Day services in palliative medicine, facilities for outpatient appointments and the base of the WHM’s office and the Waterford Community Specialist Palliative Care Team home care service feature on the first floor (Beech Ward).
Speaking at the Official Opening, Minister Donnelly said:
“This Centre is a crucial and much appreciated specialist inpatient and outpatient centre for the South East region. Themes also abound here that are significant to the Sláintecare strategy. The integration of health services, close co-operation of acute hospital and community healthcare services and promotion of Enhanced Community Care are represented in the Centre’s development and the arrangements in its operation.”
“I am keenly aware also, in the years since its completion, of how vital a resource it was to have the ground and first floor of the Dunmore Wing available to University Hospital Waterford. We will forever be grateful for the role played at that time by our health services during a very challenging time.”
“Of course, the essence of community healthcare is also at play in now having a South East Palliative Care Centre – linked, as it is, with hospice groups and Community Specialist Palliative Care Teams (homecare groups) in counties Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford.”
“To the Waterford Hospice Movement (WHM), I want to say a special ‘thank you’. Years of its fundraising in Waterford and South Kilkenny went into this and we also remember all of those, no longer with us, who availed of the WHM and HSE’s support. I know how valued the WHM’s supportive care services are in the community and we are delighted to be here with them today officially opening such a facility.”
Danette Connolly (Chairperson of the Waterford Hospice Movement) said:
“The Waterford Hospice Movement is renowned for its hospice and home care, delivered to the people of Waterford and South Kilkenny for the past 35 years. This has only been possible due to the phenomenal and consistent support we have received in terms of fundraising. It has also allowed us to achieve our dream of an inpatient specialist palliative care unit in the South East.”
“The South East Palliative Care Centre is a powerful testament to the people of the region and the determination of the past and present members of Waterford Hospice. We look forward to continuing our work as part of the Specialist Palliative Care service for the South East.”
