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Press Release
9 September 2024
Palliative Care Week
More than half of adults feel fearful when they hear the term palliative care
8 in 10 think about care at end of life when they hear the term
Over half (56%) of adults in the Republic of Ireland feel fearful when they hear the term palliative care. The finding is from a new survey of the public’s perceptions of palliative care commissioned by the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) ahead of Palliative Care Week, which takes place on 8-14 September 2024.
The survey of 1,000 people in the Republic of Ireland carried out in July 2024, also highlighted a number of the positive perceptions that exist about palliative care:
- Nearly 8 in 10 (79%) adults think palliative care also supports the family and carers of someone with a life-limiting condition
- 7 in 10 (71%) adults think palliative care can benefit people over long periods and not just end of life
- Over 6 in 10 (65%) adults think palliative care will help them to make decisions about their future care
- Almost 8 in 10 (78%) adults feel reassured that palliative care could help them or someone close to them
The theme of this year’s Palliative Care Week is ‘You, Me and Palliative Care’ This was chosen following collaboration with AIIHPC’s members and the wider palliative care sector. It reflects the commitment of AIIHPC and its member organisations to emphasise the message that palliative care affects us all, and the importance of community in the provision of palliative care services and supports.
With this theme in mind, a first of its kind all-island event will take place today in Newry. The Compassionate Communities in Palliative and End of Life Care Conference is targeted at the public and aims to promote a compassionate response from communities to support people with palliative care needs including at the end of life and bereavement supports for families and friends.
AIIHPC CEO, Karen Charnley, said:
“We see from our research that there is still a lot of apprehension around palliative care. It is understandable as thinking about potentially needing to avail of palliative care support for ourselves or those closest to us is difficult, but during Palliative Care Week, we are encouraging individuals and communities to learn more about how palliative care supports quality of life of people with life-limiting conditions by meeting their physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs. We want to promote a greater understanding of the supports available in communities across the island of Ireland as people being informed about palliative care will make it easier for them to access the services on offer and make decisions about their own care and that of those close to them.”
An Taoiseach, Simon Harris said:
“This year’s theme of ‘You, Me and Palliative Care’ perfectly captures the fact that most people will experience palliative care for themselves or their closest loved ones at some point in their lifetime. I am not one bit surprised by the overwhelmingly positive sentiment uncovered by the independent research and know the network of professionals, organisations and hospices working in palliative care throughout our country are simply extraordinary. The research also offers an insight into the hesitation many feel around the term palliative care so it’s important to use this week to highlight the spiritual, physical, emotional and family benefits of care that supports people with life-limiting conditions.”
Dr Feargal Twomey, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Clinical Lead for the National Clinical Programme for Palliative Care, HSE said:
“Palliative Care Week 2024 promises to be an exciting and eventful week, highlighting many examples of excellent palliative care delivery across the whole island of Ireland. For me, the most important feature of Palliative Care Week is the opportunity it presents to promote public awareness and understanding about what palliative care is, and to reduce fear and misunderstanding about dying, death and bereavement. I encourage you to make the time to experience at least a little of what Palliative Care Week 2024 has to offer.”
This Palliative Care Week, people are encouraged to learn more about palliative care and its benefits by visiting thepalliativehub.com for more information.”
Follow the campaign on Twitter @AIIHPC #pallcareweek.
-ENDS-
For further information or to request an interview, contact Robyn Keleghan robyn@communicationsclinic.ie- 0858001275
Photo captions:
- Launching Palliative Care Week 2024 – ‘You, Me and Palliative Care’ – L-R Back row: Chloe Feighery, Warren Feighery, Therese Ward, Ella Feighery
L-R front row: Taoiseach Simon Harris, Heidi Feighery who receives palliative care service from LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice and Ruby Feighery
- Launching Palliative Care Week 2024 – ‘You, Me and Palliative Care’ – are Taoiseach Simon Harris, Therese Ward and Heidi Feighery who receive palliative care services from LauraLynn Children’s Hospice
- Launching Palliative Care Week 2024 – ‘You, Me and Palliative Care’ – are Taoiseach Simon Harris, Karen Charnley, CEO of the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC), Fintan Fagan, Chair of AIIHPC
- Launching Palliative Care Week 2024 – ‘You, Me and Palliative Care’ – L-R Back row: Chloe Feighery, Warren Feighery, Therese Ward, Ella Feighery
L-R front row: Taoiseach Simon Harris, Heidi Feighery who receives palliative care service from LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice and Ruby Feighery
Notes to Editors:
- *iReach survey of over 1,000 people in the Republic of Ireland conducted in July 2024
- Several individuals in receipt of palliative care are willing to share their experience with the media.
- Palliative care is delivered by a wide range health and social professionals including doctors, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, psychologists, dieticians, chaplains and more.
- Karen Charnley, AIIHPC CEO, is available for interviews
Additional Information on Palliative Care Requirements:
- Evidence suggests that between 75% and 80% of people who die have conditions that would benefit from some palliative care services, with the potential to support their quality of life for weeks, months and years.
- In Republic of Ireland, estimated 68-84% increase in people dying with a palliative care need between 2016 and 2046
- In 2023, within the Republic of Ireland,
- Just over 14,000 patients received specialist palliative care services in the community
- 87000 Clinical Nurse Specialists and staff nurse visits to patients in the year
- 4150 patients received specialist inpatient palliative care services
- Specialist palliative care (SPC) teams in acute hospitals received over 12500 referrals
- 475/month Number of Family units receiving SPC Bereavement services
- An average of 70 children/ month are in the care of the SPC team in CHI
About the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care:
The All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) is a collaborative of hospices, health and social care organisations and universities on the island of Ireland. AIIHPC advances education, research and practice to improve the palliative care experience of people with life-limiting conditions and their families.
AIIHPC works with a group of visionary partners who recognise the value of working together to achieve a better, richer experience of palliative care for people with life-limiting conditions. The organisation’s 27 partners (16 Republic of Ireland / 11 Northern Ireland) are:
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
Bumbleance
Dublin City University
Dublin University Trinity College
Galway Hospice Foundation
Irish Cancer Society
Irish Hospice Foundation
Lauralynn Children’s Hospice
Marie Curie
Marymount University Hospital & Hospice
Milford Care Centre
National University of Ireland Galway
Northern Health and Social Care Trust
Northern Ireland Hospice
North West Hospice
Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services
Public Health Agency
Queen’s University Belfast
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust
Southern Health and Social Care Trust
South East Technological University
St. Francis Hospice
Ulster University
University College Cork
University College Dublin
Western Health and Social Care Trust
AIIHPC receives funding from a range of sources including the HSE, Department of Health (RoI), Public Health Agency, Health Research Board and the Health and Social Care R&D Division, Public Health Agency.