Midlands Hospice plan including Laois moves ahead say Hooves for Hospice

The selected site for the first ever Midlands Hospice comes free of charge, according to Offaly farming fundraising group Hooves 4 Hospice.

The group which is part of Tullamore Lions Club, have given a positive update after years of delay to build the first Midlands hospice to serve people nearing end of life in Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and Longford.

Pat Lalor, Chairman Hooves 4 Hospice Fundraising Project has given an update on the huge €20m project.

"Tullamore Lions Club is pleased to announce that the current value of our Hooves4Hospice fundraising project is €1.06 million. That figure exceeds our ambitions and reflects the generosity of farmers, the agricultural community generally, many schools, community groups and individuals.

"The bulk of the funds received have come from the four midland counties which the Regional Hospice will serve and significant support has also come from other counties in all four provinces.

"The success of our fundraising project reflects a remarkable level of understanding of the disadvantage experienced by patients who need inpatient palliative care in the midlands, in not having such a facility available in the region".

They are feeling positive that action is "in sight".

"At last, the prospect of that disadvantage disappearing soon, is in sight. That optimism stems from the decision of the Minister for Health, Mr. Stephen Donnolly TD, in selecting the Arden Lane site as the preferred location at which to locate the Midland Regional Hospice. The site selected is south facing and is capable of meeting all the guidelines of our Department of Health in relation to the location and facilities that constitute a modern hospice.

"Tullamore Lions Club has offered the Arden Lane site free of charge and unconditionally to the HSE. The construction and commissioning of the Midland Regional Hospice is the responsibility of the HSE.

"The design team, Coady Architects, has already formed views, based on modern best practice, that will inform their thinking in relation to the design of our Regional Hospice," the group say.

They urge Laois and other parties to come to upcoming information events for the new hospice plans.

"The HSE will be issuing invitations to interested parties and individuals to attend information events at which the design team will outline their design approach and answer questions. We exhort everyone who can to attend one of these events," say Hooves 4 Hospice.