Coffey requests Minister to sanction funding for Palliative Care Unit at WRH

Fine Gael Waterford Deputy, Paudie Coffey, has asked the Minister for Health, Dr. James Reilly TD, to sanction the required funding for the Palliative Care Unit at Waterford Regional Hospital (WRH). Deputy Coffey made the request following on from assurances given by the Minister that cancer services would be retained at WRH in any regional reconfiguration that would take place.

“Waterford Regional Hospital is a cancer centre of excellence that provides essential services to 500,000 people in the South East Region. The South East is the only area in the State without a Palliative Care Unit. This funding would show a real and tangible commitment from the Minister, Government and Department of Health to cancer services in Waterford Regional Hospital. That is why I have asked the Minister for Health to sanction €7.7 million in funding so these vital services can be delivered, in addition to the existing cancer services that are currently being delivered at WRH.

“Waterford Hospice has done extraordinary work in caring for very sick people for the last 25 years, with limited resources during that period. It has also done amazing work in respect of fundraising in the South East to ensure that vital services are provided for people who need to avail of them.

“Before the 2007 General Election, Bertie Ahern promised that this unit would be built in 2008; to date no sod has been turned at the Regional Hospital for this facility. Since my election to the Oireachtas in 2007, I have consistently been raising this issue within the Seanad, the Dáil and directly with Ministers to move the project forward.

“I have met with Minister James Reilly in relation to this matter on several occasions and have impressed upon him the need for this facility on the grounds of Waterford Regional Hospital. The Waterford Hospice movement is willing to guarantee a €2.5 million contribution as initial funding. This demonstrates its determination to work with the HSE in pursuit of a mutually beneficial result.

“This is a much needed infrastructural project for Waterford and the South East Region. The Waterford Hospice movement intends to provide an additional €3.5 million (total €6 million) through fundraising, to complete the Specialist Palliative Care Unit. This is testament to the hard work and dedication of those involved in the hospice movement.”

Ends