HOSPICE GETS READY TO OPEN
WICKLOW HOSPICE IS OFFICIALLY DUE TOOPENLATERIN THIS MONTH
RESPONSIBILITY for Wicklow Hospice has been transferred to Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services (OLH&CS) as the facility prepares to officially open later this month.
On Thursday, OLH&CS took over the management and governance of the hospice from the Wicklow Hospice Foundation. It will be the first specialist palliative care facility in County Wicklow, providing in-patient care to those with life-limiting conditions.
Chair of Wicklow Hospice Foundation, Sean Dorgan said: ‘After many years, and loyal support from the people of Wicklow, the doors of the Wicklow Hospice will soon open and we are very happy to hand the responsibility for the management and governance of the facility to OLH&CS, one of the oldest and largest specialist palliative care providers in the country.’
Two open days will take place later this month, giving the public a chance to view the facility.
RESPONSIBILITY for management and governance of Wicklow Hospice has been passed from the Wicklow Hospice Foundation to Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services (OLH&CS) ahead of its official opening later this month.
Two open days will also take place later this month, offering the public the chance to visit the facility.
Wicklow Hospice will provide 15 in-patient public beds and specialist Community Palliative Care services across the county to those with life-limiting conditions, excluding west Wicklow, which comes under St Brigid’s Hospice in Kildare.
Coming under the governance of OLH&CS, Wicklow Hospice joins the 200-bed facility in Harold’s Cross and the 12-bed facility at Blackrock.
A huge and widely-supported fundraising drive helped develop the facility at Magheramore, which is built on a 3.5 acres site that was donated by the Columban Sisters.
The HSE will meet the operational costs of the facility and fundraising for capital costs and enhancements for patients and families will be driven by OLH&CS.
Chief Executive of OLH&CS, Audrey Houlihan said she was delighted to welcome Wicklow Hospice into the OLH&CS family.
‘As the facility comes under our management, I would like to pay heartfelt tribute to the people of Wicklow and the Wicklow Hospice Foundation, for getting the facility to this point.
‘It is a testament to every person who took part in the many fundraising projects that Wicklow now has a facility of this calibre, which will be used by generations to come.’
Chair of Wicklow Hospice Foundation, Sean Dorgan said: ‘After many years and loyal support from the people of Wicklow, the doors of the Wicklow Hospice will soon open and we are very happy to hand the responsibility for the management and governance of the facility to OLH&CS, one of the oldest and largest specialist palliative care providers in the country. We are delighted to have realised our vision and we look forward to the development of Wicklow Hospice in response to local needs.’
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.
The public is invited to two open days on Saturday and Sunday, January 25 and 26, when there will be tours of the facility taking place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The official opening of Wicklow Hospice will take place later in the month once a set-date has been selected.