Minister for Health announces €2.25 million for LauraLynn Children’s Hospice, including €1.5 million in recurring annual funding
The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, has announced the provision of €2.25 million for LauraLynn Children’s Hospice.
The €2.25 million in funding comprises a €1.5 million increase to the annual core funding of LauraLynn Children’s Hospice from 2021 onwards and a €750,000 once-off allocation in 2020.
Speaking after a visit to LauraLynn today, Minister Donnelly said: “It was a great honour to meet with the staff at LauraLynn who are providing incredible care to very sick children. The LauraLynn Children’s Hospice provides invaluable support and services at a difficult and devastating time for families. Not only does LauraLynn deliver world-class healthcare to these children, the staff go above and beyond to ensure that they have the best possible quality of life and also offer compassion and support to the parents, siblings and children themselves.”
He added: “It was a privilege to provide state funding to the hospice for the first time ever to allow them to continue this work. By guaranteeing year-on-year funding they can begin planning for the future to provide more and more support and services to sick children and their families.”
The additional €1.5 million in core funding will support the delivery of palliative care services by LauraLynn hospice next year including respite and end-of-life care, homecare, family support, inpatient symptom control, and bereavement care. This funding will recur on an annual basis. The service delivery arrangements will be decided by the HSE in the 2021 National Service Plan.
The provision of €750,000 in once-off funding is part of a wider once-off allocation of €10 million to organisations in the voluntary palliative care sector to be used for developments undertaken or commenced in 2020. This funding is in recognition of the challenging circumstances brought about by COVID-19. It can be used for improvements to premises, facilities and ICT systems, telehealth and telemedicine platforms, education and training programmes and to offset lost fundraised income as a direct result of restrictions to counter the spread of COVID-19.
Minister Donnelly added: “This has been a very challenging year for everyone working in healthcare and I want to commend all of the staff and supporters of LauraLynn who have worked tirelessly to ensure that they could continue to provide services to children during this pandemic, in some cases innovating and adapting to online services. LauraLynn is one of the best and brightest examples of what we can do in this country when we work together.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITOR:
In 2019, LauraLynn provided over 1,500 short break respite and symptom management bed nights for children from 24 counties. As an essential healthcare provider, LauraLynn continues to provide services throughout all levels of restrictions, operating in line with public health guidelines.
LauraLynn House remains open, at reduced capacity due to social distancing standards. They are also providing some in person care in the family home.
Current services include:
- Planned short stays (respite)
- Crisis/Emergency stays
- End-of-Life Care