Minister gives commitment to new palliative care centre in Louth

The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, has said that both she, and the government, are committed to the development of a new hospice in Louth, according to an update sent by the minister's office to Louth Fine Gael TD Paula Butterly. 

According to the update, the Minister said it is a strategic goal and a priority of the HSE to develop a 36 bed Specialist Palliative Care Unit in Drogheda to service the population of Louth and Meath, in line with the HSE Development Framework for Palliative Care (2017) and the National Adult Palliative Care Policy (2024).

The Minister for Health said that the HSE has been working in partnership with a registered charity, Newgrange Hospice Foundation, to deliver the hospice. The partnership with Newgrange Hospice will mean construction costs of the new hospice being covered by the charity and its donors. The HSE will fund the fit out and operating costs (both pay and non-pay).

Drogheda Hospice will provide integrated and high-quality palliative care to patients in the North East. It is anticipated the tender will be awarded in late 2025, and work will commence in early 2026. Construction will take two years and the new hospice is anticipated to open in 2028.

When built, the hospice will provide inpatient, outpatient, day-hospital and bereavement services. It will also support palliative care education and research throughout the region. The new hospice will act as a hub for a comprehensive palliative care service in the region. It will be integrated and operate closely with the existing specialist palliative care teams in Louth and Meath, which currently provide specialist palliative care in local acute hospitals and in the community. 

The Minister for Health added that as part of Programme for Government 2025, Government will continue to invest in palliative care to achieve national coverage of hospice and community services.