Approval granted for new Midlands Specialist Palliative Care Unit

OFFALY County Council has officially approved planning permission for a 20-bed Midlands Specialist Palliative Care Unit on Arden Lane, Tullamore.

This decision marks a milestone step in delivering hospice services to the Midlands region, as it is expected to address a gap in specialist inpatient palliative care for Laois, Offaly, Longford, and Westmeath.

The Government has committed €24 million in capital funding to support the development of this facility. The new hospice will include 20 inpatient beds, a day therapy unit, an education centre, and modern car parking and EV charging facilities Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, warmly welcomed the approval.

She said: “I am so grateful to all involved, many of whom I met when I visited in April of last year.

"We will continue to invest in palliative care services to ensure equitable access and the highest standards of care for people and families across Ireland.” Kate Killeen White, Regional Executive Officer (REO), HSE Dublin and Midlands, called the decision a “landmark moment” for healthcare in the Midlands.

“This hospice will ensure that people with life-limiting illnesses receive the dignity, comfort, and specialist care they deserve. We are grateful to all who have worked tirelessly to make this happen.” This decision comes after years of advocacy and collaboration among local hospice groups and community initiatives. Volunteers from Laois Hospice, Longford Hospice, North Westmeath Hospice, Offaly Hospice, and South Westmeath Hospice have fundraised continuously for palliative care initiatives.

Campaigns such as Hooves-4-Hospice, led by the Lions Club, and the Irish Hospice Foundation’s advocacy and research have ensured the project remained at the forefront of the Midlands’ healthcare priorities.

Joseph Ruane, Head of Primary Care HSE Midlands, noted that the Midlands has long been one of the only regions in Ireland without a specialist inpatient palliative care unit.

“This development will close a critical gap in service provision, enhance quality of life for patients and families, and strengthen community-based and inpatient palliative care.

“I would like to thank and acknowledge the work and support of successive Ministers of Health, all hospice and associated groups throughout the midlands and nationally and our locally elected representatives, past and present, who have been so steadfastly supportive of this development over many years. It truly is a significant milestone for this project and for the Midlands population we serve.”