Cost of Opening St. Francis Hospice Blanchardstown

Below are questions I raised at the Health Forum meeting in relation to the cost of opening the 24 inpatient beds at the St. Francis Hospice Blanchardstown. The €22 million Hospice was built on a site donated by the state in the grounds of Connolly Hospital.

Through extraordinary effort by the community this capital debt has now been reduced to less than €10 million. The HSE provided a €1.5 million grant in 2011 for fit-out of the Community Palliative Care offices, Hospice Day Care and Outpatients services.  

The 24 inpatient beds remain closed pending agreement with the HSE to make funding available. The economic downturn and the problems with the health budget have been blamed for the delay. However, I understand that there is also serious concern within the HSE at the proposed costs of staffing and fitting out the inpatient beds (see links below). One senior HSE source informs me that the cost per bed is higher than that for an intensive care unit bed in any of our major hospitals. For those of us who want to see this important facility opened there needs to be a more realistic proposal that reflects the times we live in and die in.

Regional Health Forum - Dublin and North East

Fóram Réigiúnach Sláinte - Baile Átha Cliath agus an tOirthuaisceart

26^th November, 2012

Agenda Item No. 4

Reply to Question

Ref: 26.11Dennison71

Question

“To ask the cost of opening the inpatient beds at St. Francis Hospice Blanchardstown, how this compares to HSE facilities and for a copy of the funding proposals submitted to the HSE by St. Francis Hospice?”

Cllr. Kieran Dennison

Response:

St. Francis Hospice have submitted an estimate bid of €4 ,449, 578 in respect of the pay and non-pay cost of the opening of the 24 beds at the Unit in Blanchardstown. Please see attached estimate submitted by St Francis Hospice. Please note this estimate is subject to review by the HSE. This estimate may be subject to revision based on maximising use of resources across the Palliative Care Service on North Dublin.  

Comparisons with other HSE facilities is being looked at nationally as each hospice submitted their SLA documentation.

Please find details of pay and non-pay costs in the attached Appendices.

Question St. Francis Hospice

Pay Costs

Non Pay Costs

Outpatient Costs

Evening Herald coverage

Regional Health Forum - Dublin and North East

Fóram Réigiúnach Sláinte - Baile Átha Cliath agus an tOirthuaisceart

26^th November, 2012

Agenda Item No. 4

Reply to Question

Ref: 26.11Dennison72

Question

“To ask the cost of providing Hospice Day Care and Out-patient services at St. Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown since October 2011?”

Cllr. Kieran Dennison

Response:

The full year revenue allocation from the HSE to St. Francis for the Hospice day care and Out-patient Services at Blanchardstown is €386,000 for a 12 month period.

This allocation is equal to the total cost.