HISTORIC DAY AS WICKLOW HOSPICE OPENS
WICKLOW Hospice was officially opened on Friday afternoon eleven years after the original committee was first established.
The Hospice located at Magheramore will be the first specialist palliative care facility in the county and will provide 15 public beds for those with life-limiting conditions.
The 3.5 acre site was donated by the Columban Sisters and Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services (OLH&CS) will run the hospice, while the HSE will meet the operational costs.
Over €6 million has been raised through fundraisers over the past eleven years and Sean Dorgan, Chair of Wicklow Hospice Foundation, thanked the people of Wicklow for getting behind the hospice right from the start.
‘This is a truly wonderful achievement by the people of Wicklow,’ said Mr Dorgan. ‘We are humbled by the efforts of groups and individuals from around the county who have come together to realise this dream to construct a state-of-the-art specialist palliative care facility for the people of the county.
‘Week after week, month after month, events were put together and over €6 million has been raised to date. No one probably organised more events or ran more miles than Bill Porter. Fundraising will be ongoing to meet the building costs and for enhancements to patient care in the future. We are confident that OLH&CS, one of the oldest and largest specialist palliative care providers in the country, will provide an excellent service meeting the needs of the people in Wicklow.’
He also thanked the patrons of Wicklow Hospice for their support, including Daniel Day Lewis, who dedicated the première of ‘Lincoln’ to the Wicklow Hospice in 2012. Patrons in attendance at the opening included Chris de Burgh, Valerie Cox and Shane Byrne.
Chief Executive of OLH&CS, Audrey Houlihan said; ‘This is an important milestone for the people of Wicklow and another positive step for palliative care in Ireland. This development will transform patients and families’ quality of life and meet the changing care needs of this and future generations in the local community. Our
Lady’s Hospice & Care Services celebrated its 140th anniversary last year and is delighted to welcome Wicklow Hospice to its family, alongside Harold’s Cross Hospice and Blackrock Hospice. This hospice is so rooted in the local community and we will always strive to support patients and provide care at a difficult time in patients and their families lives.’
A recruitment drive for staff for the hospice is currently underway, while the first patients will be admitted in April.
Paying tribute to the commitment and dedication of all involved Minister Simon Harris thanked everyone involved in the Wicklow Hospice project for their dedication.
‘You have done it, you have really done it’ said the Minister of Health, as he addressed the crowd.
‘It is a real pleasure to be here today celebrating this opening of wonderful facility. It’s an emotional and very moving day. The commitment of the people of Wicklow to this Hospice has been immense. By its nature, palliative care is rooted in the community and what you achieved is remarkable. The Hospice will support the people of Wicklow during difficult times and work with patients and their families to celebrate life and ensure their dignity and comfort.’
Valerie Cox introduced each speaker and thanked the Columban Sisters in particular for their donation of the site.
‘Someone went up, asked “can we have a site?” and the Sisters said yes,’ recalled Mrs Cox.
Cllr Irene Winters, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council commented: ‘The first public meeting regarding establishing a hospice in Wicklow took place in the Dominican eleven years ago. Their vision and tenacity has brought this hospice to where it is, as well as the generosity of the Columban Sisters and the contribution of all those who organised different fundraisers.’
Recruitment for positions at Wicklow Hospice will commence in the coming weeks. Applications will be invited for a range of roles and will be published on www.olh.ie and on OLH&CS social media channels.