The physical space created for those end-of-life conversations is an essential requirement. It’s far easier to make decisions on advance care planning and end-of-life wishes when in good health and in a space where you are comfortable. But for many, those decisions and conversations happen in hospital environments with little time, space or privacy to prepare. IHF’s Design and Dignity programme has worked to address this pressure by partnering with the HSE to deliver custom family rooms, bereavement rooms and mortuary spaces in acute hospitals, but much still needs to be done to prioritise the creation of suitable spaces across all acute hospitals in Ireland. When IHF was founded by Mary Redmond in 1986 our objectives were to increase public awareness of the hospice movement, establish research into aspects of pain control and raise funds for capital projects, research and education. 40 years later we are proud to say that we have continued to support the aspiration held by Mary Redmond “to make hospice care ordinary not in its quality but in its quantum in Ireland” . The hospice principles of compassionate care are now strongly embedded across all settings in Ireland. But we still need to do more. This report notes that while not everyone will require Specialist Palliative Care, the numbers of people who are ageing with chronic conditions is increasing, many of whom will require a palliative care approach to support them to have good end-of-life care. Ireland must have a broader conversation on the future of dying, death and bereavement. People need to know that their end-of-life wishes will be respected and accessible at the most critical times. We require equitable access to palliative care for the huge growing need that is coming our way and funding for the policy that sets out the ambition to deliver this. Bereavement remains relatively invisible in our policies and legislation, and we can start by legislating for statutory leave for this important life event. We will continue to work towards the best end of life and bereavement care for all in Ireland. Paula O’Reilly, CEO Irish Hospice Foundation
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Dying, Death and Bereavement in Ireland 2026
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