State of the art children's hospice set to be built in Mayo

Today, Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation revealed plans to build a state-of-the-art children's hospice at an event in Castlebar, County Mayo. The Sunflower Children’s Hospice, funded by Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, will provide essential care for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families across eight counties on the Western seaboard. This marks a significant milestone as it’s the first children's hospice to be built outside of Dublin, and the first of its kind to be constructed since 2011.

With an overall project estimated cost of between €12m and €14 million, the Foundation has launched a campaign to raise €7 million over the next year to ensure construction can commence in 2026. The in-patient and respite facility is expected to be completed in approximately two years. A site has already been secured in Castlebar, with the Government and HSE committed to supporting clinical governance.

Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, made the official announcement at an event in Castlebar today. She said: “I am delighted to attend the fundraising launch for a children’s hospice in the West of Ireland. The new hospice will provide care, comfort and dignity to children and families at the most difficult times in their lives. A children’s hospice in the region represents hope for families who have, for too long, had to travel long distances for specialist palliative care. I want to commend the fundraising organisation, Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, their supporters and communities across the West for their incredible commitment and contribution. This is a truly important day for palliative care in Ireland.”

Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, TD, said: “The work of the Mayo Roscommon Hospice is simply incredible. There is virtually no family in the west of Ireland who has not been touched by their compassionate care in their greatest hours of need. The Sunflower Children’s Hospice is a one-of-a-kind, vital extension of this mission. The ambition, the drive to offer first-class facilities and care, coupled with an extraordinary ability to raise funds, is what Martina and the team have become synonymous with. I look forward to working closely with the Minister, the HSE, elected representatives, and the entire Hospice team over the coming years to deliver this project for the west of Ireland.” 

Martina Jennings, CEO of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, said: “There are so many families with children with life limiting illnesses in the West of Ireland that require paediatric palliative care services and without this service in the West, many face long journeys to Dublin or limited in-home support, which often leads to immense emotional strain, family breakdowns, and siblings struggling in silence.

"Our goal now is to ensure that children with life limiting illnesses and their families, in the West of Ireland, get the very best of care throughout their journey from diagnosis to end of life. I’m a firm believer that by doing the right thing you achieve your goals. Together, we can build Sunflower Children’s Hospice and provide hope, comfort, and care for families who need it most. No longer will the services that children and young adults receive be defined by where they are born. 

"To meet this critical need, we must raise €7 million over the next year to build  Sunflower Children’s Hospice. We have already raised €6.5m, of the estimated €12m-€14m cost. We did it before for Mayo and Roscommon Hospices and I know we can do it again with the supportive communities we have.

This time we have the support of eight counties and I’m calling all on businesses, schools, universities, community groups, families and friends to join us in our fundraising efforts. Every contribution, no matter the size, will go directly towards creating a hospice that will provide much-needed care and support.”

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Paul Foxe, Chair of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, said: “I am so proud of the communities throughout Mayo and Roscommon that have supported us for over 30 years to fund our community palliative care service, along with building our Mayo and Roscommon Hospices. With their continued support, we will continue to fund our community palliative care service, and services in both hospices.

"I’m also very proud of what we have achieved so far, in partnership with the HSE and Department of Health in terms of getting Mayo and Roscommon Hospices up and running. We are incredibly grateful to the HSE for the work they have undertaken in the needs establishment report for this Children’s Hospice, and don’t underestimate the work they have ahead in establishing an organisation and governance structure for this service.”

Tony Canavan, Regional Executive Officer, HSE West and North West said: “This is a hugely important service which will deliver care, dignity and compassion to young people and their families when they need it most. Our communities right across the West and North West will have access to specialist palliative care without facing a burden of significant travel. We are really looking forward to working with Mayo Roscommon Hospice to progress this much needed facility.”

Chuck Dunford, from Ballina in Mayo, and his family have benefitted greatly from palliative care services. His son Kevin died on the cusp of his ninth birthday in 2014 to a life-limiting condition which Kevin was born with.

Chuck said: “If there had been a hospice in the West of Ireland, the problem would have been solved. We, as parents, could have been relieved of the burden of the medical care, and we could have concentrated on his final days.

"The Sunflower Children's Hospice in the West of Ireland will make a huge difference to families who have been in similar situations to us. It will take a huge burden of worry off them, trying to keep family life as normal as possible. When you have a community palliative care team working hand in hand with hospitals and disability services, that's a perfect jigsaw.”

To make a donation, see www.hospice.ie  

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