Hospice chief upbeat about securing €24m

THE CHIEF executive of the new €24 million St Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown has said she is confident that the money can be found to complete the project despite the economic downturn.

The hospice is one of the largest ever medical projects in the State to be built exclusively using private donations. The foundation stone was laid by local TD and Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan last night.

A total of €3.7 million has already been raised, but a further €19.4 million will have to be found to complete the hospice by the July 2011 deadline. The St Francis Hospice in Raheny was similarly funded by private donations, but it was completed in stages.

St Francis Hospice’s chief executive, Ethel McKenna, said “realistically” they will not be able to raise all the money by the time the new hospice opens, but the response of the community in Dublin 15 was such that the money could be raised over the long term.

“We do get quite an amount in donations. There is a drop at the moment, but there is a great appreciation of the things that we do and hence people will organise an event for us or make a donation or leave us a legacy in a will.

“Really it is just an appreciation of the people who come in contact with us and from the local community.”

She pointed out that local garages had given cars for raffles which had raised €120,000 for the hospice to date while the ladies mini-marathon can raise between €250,000 and €300,000 for the project.

Mr Lenihan said last night that the project was an “excellent example” of the spirit of volunteerism in Ireland. “Local people should take a bow today and I would urge any other donors to come forward and support this vitally needed project,” he said.

Although the new hospice is supported by the Health Service Executive (HSE), it is not providing any capital funding for it.

The Government did, however, provide the 6.8-acre site at Abbotstown.

Offering a wide range of palliative care services, the hospice will operate 24 single room in-patient beds, a full range of therapies such as complementary therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, a hospice day care, and education and conference facilities.

It will also provide a base for the St Francis community palliative care team currently working in the Dublin west area.

Once fully operational, it will enhance the hospice’s ability to provide palliative care in an area of Dublin which has been provided solely by St Francis Hospice Raheny since 1989.

The chairman of St Francis Hospice, Mr Justice Peter Kelly, said the provision of 24 new in-patient beds would double the capacity currently available at the hospice in Raheny.

“Our goal is to ensure that each patient in need of our services can readily access them,” the chairman said. “Once the new facility is completed, we will be well positioned to meet the needs of this local community in west Dublin.”