Dying patients must go on waiting lists for care

TERMINALLY ill patients are being put on waiting lists for vital end-of-life care as a result of the State’s long-term failure to adequately invest in hospice services.

Figures released to the Irish Examiner show that on a single day last week, more than 130 people facing imminent death were told it could be weeks before they would be able to access a hospice due to a lack of resources.

The figures, released by the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) ahead if its national fundraising day tomorrow, show on April 27 a total of 133 patients suffering from terminal cancer, renal and respiratory illnesses were told they could not immediately access the pain relief service.