Irish Hospice Foundation welcomes the commitments to dying, death and bereavement in the draft Programme for Government because every death matters, and we only have one chance to get it right.
We were pleased to note that the draft Programme included a number of our key asks, including:
- A commitment to providing the best end-of-life and bereavement support for patients, families and carers by investing in palliative care to achieve full national coverage of hospice and community services and funding the National Adult Palliative Care Policy.
- We also welcome the opportunity to work with Government to support the work of the COVID-19 inquiry and highlight the findings and recommendations from our Time to Reflect report, which highlighted the need for a public health approach to bereavement.
Reform of the coroner service is long overdue and much needed. The coroner system plays a pivotal role in the experience of many people who are bereaved, and we welcome the inclusion of legislation to establish a modern, fit-for-purpose coronial system in the Programme for Government.
As a key partner in our work we welcome the support for the work of the Decision Support Service and review the operation of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015.
We also welcome the development of a new national policy on palliative care for children and increase funding to children’s hospice care. The supports for older people and the continuing commitment to support family carers are also positive developments.
We would like to see more emphasis on bereavement in the Programme for Government through the delivery of a public health approach to supports and needs. We will work with this new Government to highlight the impact significant events such as the death of a loved one can have on people’s emotional, financial, workplace and educational wellbeing.
We will continue to press for the delivery of the policies and investment that are required to support people who are facing dying, death and bereavement in Ireland.
