A local councillor is calling on the HSE and the Minister for Health to ensure that Cavan has a palliative care team that is properly resourced.
Cllr Aine Smith raised the issue at this weeks sitting of Cavan County Council highlighting the wonderful service needs resourcing of funding and recruitment of staff as soon as possible. Cllr Smith said we are very lucky to have excellent supports provided by Cavan Monaghan Palliative Care Fund. It is only when this exceptional service is needed that a person understands how incredible this service is in your time of need.
She said she knows that the service provided by Cavan Monaghan Palliative care team is nothing short of amazing and many many families who they have helped are testament to that. However, this incredible team that cover two counties of Cavan and Monaghan have only 6 nurses and 1 consultant. At any given time this team will have between 150 and 200 patients on their books to try to see. A person who has been referred by their GP have to be seen within a timeframe of 2-7 days, these patients don't always get seen to as this team are so understaffed.
In the last 10 years only one extra palliative nurse has been recruited. Any position that has expired in the last 5-7 years has not been filled. They are completely and utterly understaffed. Cllr Smith said the freeze on recruitment must be addressed without further delay.
