Seanad Éireann,  End-of-Life Care and Bereavement April 2014

Proposed by Senator Marie Louise O Donnell, a members motion on End-of-Life Care and Bereavement was discussed on Wednesday April 16th. Full transcript of the motion can be accessed HERE Watch recording HERE  

Joint Committee Hearings October / November 2013

Between October 24^th and 14^th November 2013 the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children, held a series of public hearings chaired by Jerry Buttimer TD end-of-life care issues in Ireland.  Expert speakers addressed the committee and examined current arrangements for end-of-life care in Ireland and what measures can be taken to ensure that persons of all ages approaching end of life are enabled to die well and with dignity. Speakers including Irish Hospice Foundation CEO Sharon Foley, addressed issues including; planning for end of life, the role of specialist palliative care, death in hospital, at home and in long-stay residential facilities, children, diversity and bereavement care.  Further details are available here. Irish Hospice Foundation submission to committee - Download HERE 

Session 1 October 24 - 'Why is End-Of-Life Care important?' 

• Opening remarks by Sharon Foley, CEO Irish Hospice Foundation  
• End-of-Life Care in Ireland: ethical challenges and solutions - Opening statement, Joan Mc Carthy 
• End-of-life care in Ireland: ethical challenges and solutions - submission, Joan Mc Carthy   
• Patricia Rickard Clarke, Submission on behalf of the National Council of the Forum on End-of-Life in Ireland 
• Patricia Rickard Clarke, on behalf of the National Council of the Forum on End-of-Life in Ireland, remarks 

Full transcript of October 24th - Session 1   

Session 2 October 24th - 'What is the role of specialist palliative care?' 

• Dr Karen Ryan Consultant Palliative Medicine St Francis Hospice & Mater Hospital, clinical Lead HSE Palliative Care Programme - Opening Statement

• Dr Karen Ryan - Submission to committee
• Margaret Clifford, Irish Association for Palliative Care (IAPC) - Opening statement
• Margaret Clifford IAPC - Submission to committee
• Ms Paddie Blaney, All Ireland Institute of Hospice & Palliative Care - Opening statement
• Kevin O Dwyer, Voluntary Hospices Group - Opening statement
• Prof. Doiminic Ó Brannagáin, Consultant Physician in Palliative Medicine - Opening statement 
• Dr Brian Creedon Chairman, Irish Palliative Medicine Consultants Association - Opening statement

Full Transcript October 24th Session 2 >> Watch recording of session 1 & 2 (Via Oireachtas TV)

Session 3 November 5 - 'Dying in the community'

• Mary Burke director of care,  Nursing Homes Ireland - Opening statement
• Mary O' Dowd Director Institute of Community Health Nursing - Opening statement 
• Dr Paul Gregan Consultant Palliative Medicine, Blackrock Hospice & Principal in General Practice, Deansgrange Co. Dublin - Submission
• Prof. Declan Walsh, Professor of Palliative Medicine Trinity, University College Dublin, Consultant in Palliative care, Our Lady's Hospice 
• The Alzheimer Society of Ireland - Submission

Full Transcript November 5th - Session 3 

Session 4 November 7th - 'Children & End-of-life' 

• Brid Carroll, Irish Childhood Bereavement Network - Opening statement
• Irish Childhood Bereavement Network (ICBN) submission
• Jack & Jill Foundation - Opening statement
• Julie Ling, Laura Lynn Children's Hospice - Opening statement 
• Laura Lynn Ireland's Children's Hospice - Submission
• Dr Maeve O’Reilly, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, St Luke’s Hospital & Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin -Opening Statement 
• Dr Maeve O Reilly - Submission 

Full Transcript November 7th - session 4   >>Watch recording of session 4 & 5 (via Oireachtas TV) 

Session 5 November 7th - 'Diversity & Bereavement' 

• Orla Keegan Head of Education, Research & Bereavement Irish Hospice Foundation - Opening Statement 
• Orla Keegan, Head of Education, Research & Bereavement - Submission
• Odhran Allen, Director of Mental Health, Gay & Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) - Opening Statement
• GLEN - 'Visible Lives; IdentIfying the experiences and needs of older lesbian, gay, bisexual and  transgender people In Ireland' report
• Dr. Paul D'Alton, head and clinical lead Department of Psycho-Oncology St Vincents Hospital & School of Psychology UCD  - Submission
• Dr. Regina McQuillan, Palliative Medicine consultant and medical director at St. Francis Hospice - Submission

Full Transcript Session 5 - November 7th 

 Session 6 November 14th - 'Dying in hospital' 

• Bryan Nolan, Communications & Development coordinator, Irish Hospice Foundation - Opening statement
• Bryan Nolan, submission, staff development & training
• Deirdre Madden, senior lecturer law, UCC - Opening statement
• Kate Bree, Network of Hospice Friendly Hospitals - Opening statement
• Kate Bree, Network of Hospice Friendly Hospitals - Submission
• Joan Kelly, Irish Cancer Society - Opening Statement
• Margaret Naughton, National Association of Healthcare Chaplains (N.A.H.C) - Opening statement
• Prof. Cillian Twomey, retired consultant geriatrician, HSE South - Opening statement
• Prof. Patrick Plunkett, Irish Association for Emergency Medicine & St James's Hospital - Opening statement
• Dr Geoff King, Pre hospital emergency care council - Opening statement

Full Transcript Session 6 - November 14th