Care for People Dying in Hospitals Pilot- 2004-2006.

Care for People Dying in Hospitals Pilot- 2004-2006.

Hospice principles in hospital setting.

In March 2004, the Irish Hospice Foundation began a two-year pilot project at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda aimed at developing the hospice philosophy in a hospital setting. The project was informed from the findings of the ‘Care of the dying patient in hospital’ project conducted in St James’ Hospital and published in 1999.

The purpose of the Care for People Dying in Hospitals Project was to pioneer a process for change in the culture of care and organisation with regard to dying, death and bereavement in hospitals. The project also aimed to enable the adoption of these changes in other hospitals. Research for the project pointed to tension between the needs of an acute hospital and the needs of dying people and their families. The limitations of the hospital’s physical environment, the shortage of private spaces, the need to develop skills for communicating in difficult situations, the work pressures on staff at all levels, and difficulties with recognising the dying state as a legitimate diagnosis were regarded as significant challenges.

The project lead to the identification of the four themes which became the basis for the planning and development of the Hospice Friendly Hospitals programme; Integrated Care, Communication, Dignity and Design and Patient Autonomy.

These themes would be the foundation for the Hospice Friendly Hospitals project.

Mervyn Taylor was hired as the project manager for the ‘Care for people dying in hospitals’ project in December 2003 and would become the programme manager for the Hospice Friendly Hospitals programme which was developed from this pilot.

The project won best hospital project at the Irish Pharmaceutical Awards 2005. It was also chosen as one of the three projects to represent Ireland at the 4th Quality Conference for Public Administrators in the EU in 2006.

Programme Manager: Mervyn Taylor.
Irish Hospice Foundation.

Irish Hospice Foundation.

2004-2006.
The project won best hospital project at the Irish Pharmaceutical Awards 2005. It was also chosen as one of the three projects to represent Ireland at the 4th Quality Conference for Public Administrators in the EU in 2006.

©Irish Hospice Foundation.

Parent Collection: Hospice Friendly Hospitals programme.

English.

©Irish Hospice Foundation.