An Ombudsman report into end-of-life care, ‘A Good Death’, described some of the issues raised in complaints the Ombudsman received, and the impact on dying patients and their loved ones.  A ‘Progress Report’ published in 2018 highlights improvements in the provision of care as well as some areas that need further attention. 

The six new posts combined with the existing seven end-of-life coordinators means that every hospital group and all large teaching hospitals in Ireland will have a member of staff dedicated to the continuous improvement in end-of-life care. 

Ombudsman Peter Tyndall said: 

“It is important that hospital staff have the resources and supports necessary to allow patients who die in hospital to do so with dignity and respect.  The provision of additional end-of-life co-ordinators and training is a positive step. It builds on the work already being done by the HSE and the Irish Hospice Foundation’s Hospice Friendly Hospitals programme.”

The full list of hospitals that will receive the six additional co-ordinators is:

Tullamore General Hospital 

Cork University Hospital and Mercy University Hospital 

Waterford University Hospital 

University College Hospital, Galway 

Beaumont Hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes hospital, Drogheda 

St. Vincent’s University Hospital