The policy is designed to ensure that individuals with life-limiting conditions and their families receive timely and appropriate care. Credit: Verin/Shutterstock.

Ireland’s Department of Health has introduced National Adult Palliative Care Policy aimed at enhancing and expanding palliative care services across the nation.  

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly unveiled the policy on 10 September, marking the first major strategic initiative in this field in over two decades. 

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Launched during Palliative Care Week, the policy is designed to ensure that individuals with life-limiting conditions and their families receive timely and appropriate care.  

An initial investment of €2m ($2.2m) has been allocated for the policy’s implementation this year, with additional funding for subsequent years to be determined through the annual budget process. 

Donnelly said: “This funding will allow for the development and implementation of a modern and standardised palliative care information and communications technologies (ICT) infrastructure. 

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“We are taking an integrated approach across the six health regions, providing support to rehabilitation and bereavement services and ensuring appropriate resourcing of the National Clinical Programme for Palliative Care to develop alternative care pathways and reduce the number of palliative patients with emergency needs presenting to Emergency Departments.” 

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The newly unveiled National Adult Palliative Care Policy aims to enhance patient-centred care by using a comprehensive, integrated approach across primary, acute, and social care settings.  

According to the government, this strategy addresses the diverse needs of patients requiring palliative care and anticipates the growth of Ireland’s older population. 

The policy reinforces government’s efforts to advance palliative care services, as underlined in the 2024 budget. 

This year’s budget allocates around €155m for palliative care, which is an increase of €54m or 53% since 2020. 

Besides, the policy includes 25 key recommendations, such as boosting public awareness of palliative care and supporting community engagement initiatives alongside service providers and volunteer organisations.  

It also proposes enhanced support for general practitioners (GPs) and community-based services to manage more palliative care patients at home, expanding out-of-hours palliative care, as well as minimising unnecessary hospital admissions.  

Furthermore, the policy emphasises the need to support family carers and address regional disparities in specialist palliative care availability, ensuring services are adapted to the needs of various populations.