The invaluable and much needed services provided by Galway Hospice are set to be expanded and enhanced, following news that it is to be made more financially robust as a result of a Government redesignation.
The announcement yesterday by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly that it is to be funded under Section 38 designation has been welcomed by the Hospice as it places it on a surer financial footing.
Mr Donnelly is now formally seeking approval to redesignate four hospices from Section 39 entities (where the State partially funds the body ) to Section 38 organisations where the level of State intervention is higher.
The move came about as it is now accepted that the existing funding model and continued reliance on fundraised income does not provide financial sustainability for any of the four hospices, including Galway.
The primary distinction is that Section 38 organisations are funded to provide a defined level of service on behalf of the HSE, and their employees are classified as public servants.
Under Section 39, agencies are funded to varying degrees for services, and employees are not classified as public servants.
Becoming Section 38 agencies would assure the hospice movement of full funding for all its continued provision of services, which are growing dramatically as people are living longer and the number of people needing palliative care is increasing.
Hospice CEO Mary Nash welcomed the news and said that this will enable the facility to provide more services and more training and education.
The redesignation is expected to be completed before the end of 2022.
