St. Francis Hospice, Dublin cared for 2,095 patients, and their family members and friends, in 2023, the highest number in its history, according to its annual report for the year.
CEO, Fintan Fagan said that in 2023, the hospice’s innovative specialist palliative care Outpatient and Day Service listened and responded to the diverse needs of their patients who were living at home, and provided programmes of care to enable them to live as well and as actively as possible.
St. Francis is marking the hospice’s 35th anniversary year and preparing to embark on the build for its new 24-bed In-Patient Unit in Raheny,
Mr. Fagan said he was delighted to report that during 2023 they continued to provide high quality and accessible palliative care services at no charge to patients and families. Their objective of ensuring that the people of North Dublin and surrounding counties had improved access to specialist palliative care was demonstrated by their care for 2,095 patients and their families, an 8% increase on 2022 activity.
“I would like to acknowledge the adaptability, creativity, professionalism and commitment of each member of the hospice team. St Francis Hospice Dublin remains committed to the spirit of voluntarism and to our ethos and core values which have carried us through nearly 35 years, from a fledgling service operating out of a Porta-cabin to a fully-fledged, comprehensive specialist palliative care service for the people of North Dublin and surrounding counties.
“In 2023, the hospice secured government agreement to complete Section 38 redesignation of the four adult voluntary hospices, which includes St Francis Hospice. This means that our adult hospices will now be fully publicly funded for the first time. It means that monies fundraised by St Francis Hospice will no longer be required to fund payroll or other operational costs, with effect from 1st February 2024. Our fundraising, with support from our wonderful community, will now focus on new buildings, extra comforts for patients and families, and innovative patient care projects.
“This is a milestone moment in the development of palliative care in Ireland and a great example of successful partnership between government and its departments, the HSE, the voluntary hospices sector and the wider community.”
