I am delighted that the HSE has agreed to open 20 additional beds at Marymount Hospice. These new beds will be opened on a phased basis during this year and will make the high quality services provided by Marymount more widely available.
Every family across Cork has experienced the excellent service offered by Marymount. When the new facility was built it added extra bed capacity which will now become available to those who need to use the services. Having access to specialist care is essential for people and families who are going through life’s most difficult challenges. The availability of these new beds will mean Marymount can now operate at full capacity and help the maximum number of people who need its specialised care.
This is the final phase in the completion of the redevelopment project which had a total cost of over €56 million. During construction the HSE gave a commitment that the additional beds would be funded at a later stage; today’s announcement is a fulfilment of that commitment.
The entire team at Marymount deserves to be congratulated for its efforts. The staff deliver an excellent service which touches the hearts of so many people in Cork and the surrounding counties. This additional funding is recognition of their commitment. It is also important to recognise the efforts of everyone who was involved in fundraising for the Curraheen facility which was led by Friends of Marymount. It is the support of the public and the contributions to these fundraising efforts which made the redevelopment project a reality.
Further improvements to palliative care in Cork have also been announced by the HSE, including a doubling of the palliative care consultant input at Cork University Hospital. Both of these initiatives will be welcomed by the all those who will benefit from these improved services.