In September 2021 the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly announced the development of 16 bed Specialist Palliative Care Inpatient Hospice, on the St. Christopher’s Site in Cavan to serve the population of Cavan and Monaghan. After many years of evidence based advocacy the St. Christopher’s Hospice Committee are managing the renovation and extension of the existing inpatient unit. The financial support of local communities has enabled the progress of this vital Hospice project. However a major fundraising drive is a vital to the completion of this building project. The annual operating costs, including the employment of more than 50 multidisciplinary healthcare and support staff, will be fully funded by the taxpayer via the HSE.
The Minister stated “I am delighted to announce this significant investment in Palliative Care Services for the population of Cavan and Monaghan. This will mean that the new facility on the St. Christopher’s site will provide 16 Level 3* Inpatient Palliative Care bed, with Palliative Care Consultant oversight.
I am also delighted to further announce the development of community based residential accommodation for 8 people with a Physical and Sensory Disability as well as an enhanced respite service. This new development represents a further investment of approximately €2.5m and confirms the Government’s commitment to people with a disability”.
This Hospice development has been a key objective for the St. Christopher’s Hospice Committee and the communities of Cavan and Monaghan for a significant number of years. This development has involved many years of hard work, fundraising and planning.
According to Jim Lalor, Chair of the St Christopher’s Committee:
“Our Hospice Committee is delighted that Ministerial approval has now been received for the upgrading of St. Christopher’s facility on the Loretto Road, Cavan to a full Specialist Palliative Care Inpatient Hospice. This investment represents the culmination of very many years of hard work and the continued support of our volunteer fundraisers and supporters, on whom we will continue to rely. We will shortly be in a position to commence work on completing the statutory planning and design processes required to fully comply with the National Design Guidelines for Specialist Palliative Care Settings. Thereafter, thanks to our supporters and fundraisers, we hope to submit to tender for and to commence construction work.
Of course, we will need the continued financial support of the local Cavan and Monaghan communities to complete this major undertaking for the people of Cavan and Monaghan. Once completed, the day to day running of St. Christopher’s will be the responsibility of the HSE who will meet all of the major revenue and running costs associated with the new service. The Board of Trustees and Committee of St. Christopher’s, on the other hand, will continue to be responsible for all capital maintenance and upkeep of the building and grounds.
We wish to thank the HSE personnel who have been cooperating with us over the past couple of years in order to agree and lay the foundations for this major development.”
