An awesome achievement
OPENING OF NEW IN-PATIENT UNIT A PROUD DAY FOR THE KERRY HOSPICE FOUNDATION
LAST Friday was a very special occasion for the hard working volunteers of the Kerry Hospice Foundation.
The opening of the new in-patient Care Unit at University Hospital Kerry (UHK) is the culmination of 27 years work and a county wide effort that has raised a truly phenomenal €11.5 million.
Thanks to the work of the Kerry Hospice Foundation (KHF) people in Kerry can live out their last days in peace and comfort, surrounded by their loved ones and in receipt of the very best end of life care.
The official opening was performed by Kerry Person of The Year Ted Moynihan, who has helped lead the KHF fundraising effort since its foundation in 1992.
A characteristically modest Ted – who was greeted by cheers and applause – played down his role and praised the thousands of fundraisers and donors who had helped make Friday possible.
“The people of Kerry did this, not me not anyone else. I hope many of them will never need the hospice but the hospice will always need them,” he said.
“Hospice matter. The end of life deserves as much love, care and beauty as the beginning,” said Ted.
The Master of Ceremonies at Friday’s opening – which drew hundreds of guests from across Kerry and Ireland – Dr Billy O’Connor said the day was a landmark in the county’s history.
“At long last this day has come. As a GP in the area I’ve seen first hand what the KHF have done for the county. This is the final piece in the jigsaw and it has all been done thanks to the generosity of the people of Kerry and the incredible hard work of the fundraisers,” he said.
The HSE’s National Lead for Palliative Care Seilagh Reaper-Reylnolds said the KHF were an inspiration to the entire country.
“I don’t think there is any other county that has raised what has been raised in Kerry. I know what it’s like to try and raise €100,000. I could never have imagined you could raise over €11 million,” said Mrs Reaper Reynolds.
Newly installed UHK General Manager Fergal Grimes was also stunned by what has been achieved in Kerry
“This is just my fifth day in the job and today has shown me how extra special this hospital and the people of Kerry are. They did what the people of Kerry do, they delivered,” he said.
“This building will change lives. It will be truly transformative and you can all be truly proud,” said Mr Grimes.
The opening ceremony concluded with a blessing of the new €6.5 million, 15 bed unit by Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne and Church of Ireland Rev James Stephens.