Transparency sought after 'dramatic u-turn' on Midlands hospice site

Questions over the location of the first in-patient hospice planned for the Midlands and the involvement of the Minister for Health have been raised by Laois Offaly independent TD.

Dep Carol Nolan has issued a statement in which she said she has engaged directly with the office of the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly on the decisions surrounding the facility which is due to be built to serve Laois, Offaly and other midland counties.

She said she was doing so to get ‘maximum transparency’ around the criteria being used to determine the final site for the proposed new Offaly hospice.

Deputy Nolan was speaking as the conclusion of a selection process which she said took a "fairly dramatic and unexpected turn” when the proposed site at Arden Lane was subjected to further scrutiny by Minister Donnelly.

“We know from the extensive and in-depth independent scoring assessment that was carried out that the Arden Lane site was considered to be an excellent location, and indeed this was supported by the Tullamore Lions Club and hospice group representatives,” said Deputy Nolan.

“We now have a situation where the Minister is essentially saying that this assessment was fundamentally flawed or incomplete at some level. I want clear and unambiguous clarity on what the problems he has identified are.

“I understand that the Wellwood site, which is also being considered is being seen as equally appropriate but again, how precisely was that decision arrived at," she said. 

She asked: Who was consulted for example?"

Dep Nolan said the Midlands needs a hospice but on the correct site.

"The entire region desperately needs a hospice facility. We also need to ensure that the process is fully transparent and that the communities who will depend on the hospice can have absolute faith in the fact that the best and most clinically appropriate site was selected for the correct reasons,” Dep Nolan concluded.

Health Minister Donnelly confirmed early in 2024 that a plan for hospice at Tullamore hospital has been abandoned: “It was the best site available at the time but it came with some significant limitations. Since then two other sites have become available for appraisal.”

More than €20 million into public funds are committed to the project while extensive fundraising has been carried out locally to supplement the construction costs.