2,500 terminally ill patients denied hospice care

Up to 2,500 terminally ill patients are being denied hospice inpatient care every year because of repeated government failures to meet “best practice” standards.

A report by the Irish Hospice Foundation made the finding after warning that three times the current amount of hospice beds are needed to meet demand.

According to the group, despite international best practice guidelines suggesting 450 hospice beds should be available in Ireland, just 155 are in place.