Hospice Friendly Hospitals Programme 2006 -2016

Hospice Friendly Hospitals Programme 2006 -2016

Items and collections documenting the Hospice Friendly Hospitals programme, from its origins with the Care of people dying in hospitals pilot project in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital to the prijects developed though the hospice friendly hospitals initiative.

In 2006 following the success of the Care of people dying in hospitals pilot project in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda the Irish Hospice Foundation was awarded funding from Atlantic Philanthropies to develop a national Hospice Friendly Hospitals programme.
The HFH programme was undertaken in partnership with the HSE and a range of public service and academic organisations. The programme was initially developed as a five-year work-stream (2007-2012) designed to improve the quality of end-of life care in acute and community hospitals in Ireland. It was implemented across two ’phases’: 2007-10; 2010-12. The national programme was launched formally on 14 May 2007, by President Mary McAleese in St Mary’s Hospital in Dublin’s Phoenix Park.
Central to the programme was the development of a comprehensive framework of standards regarding dying, death and bereavement in Ireland.
Key Achievements;

-The launch of the Quality Standards for End-of-Life Care in Hospitals by Minister of Health & Children, Mary Harney TD, in May 2010.

-The HFH Programme won the 2010 Irish Medical Times Award for ‘Excellence in Healthcare Management’

-Commitment from HIQA to include the Quality Standards as a ‘core care process’ in their standards

-A National Audit of End-of-Life Care in Hospitals, which included 1,000 patient deaths across 54 acute and community hospitals (comprising 75% of national acute bed capacity). This was the first audit of its kind in the EU.

-The publication of Design & Dignity Guidelines for Physical Environments of Hospitals Supporting End-of-Life Care and subsequent development of the design & dignity programme to fund refurbishment projects in hospitals.

-Engagement with the HSE Office of the CEO to secure a specific commitment in the HSE Service Plan for 2011 to the implementation of End-of-Life Care Development Plans in all hospitals.

-The establishment of Networks of Champions with representatives from HSE local health offices, acute and community hospitals, primary care services and voluntary organisations to influence changes at policy level and to share information and good practice.

-The development and implementation of ‘Final Journeys’ an interactive staff development programme aimed at all hospital staff. This Programme is embedded within the HSE’s education/development structures.

-The establishment of a Practice Development Framework to support the work of front-line staff in the care of patients and their families.

-The development of an Ethical Framework - an online educational resource to support ethical and legal challenges relating to end-of-life care