Coffee drinkers boost hospice movement

Hundreds of thousands of people downed a cup of coffee today as the vital annual fund raiser for hospice services got under way.

Ireland’s biggest coffee morning saw over 1.25 million cups being poured in homes and workplaces in a bid to raise more than €2.5m for hospice care this year.

Eugene Murray, chief executive of the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF), estimated up to 13,000 patients will require access to hospice and specialist palliative care in 2016.

Mr Murray acknowledged significant progress had been made in recent years to expand hospice services.

“Regrettably, it is a fact that much work remains to be done to ensure that Ireland has a world class national hospice/palliative care service. We know that there are still inconsistencies in accessing hospice services throughout the country.

“Patient and family access to comprehensive hospice services largely depends on the region of the country in which the patient lives. It is vital that we tackle this situation.”

Mr Murray said all money raised would remain within the local area.

Around 1,499 patients were cared for in specialist in-patient units or hospices during 2004. During the same period, specialist palliative care nurses provided over 90,000 home visits to more than 6,000 patients in the community.

The event, which is in its 13th year is sponsored by Bewleys, which provides free coffee nationwide for the event. People are asked to donate at least €2 for every cup of coffee downed.

“Hospice care is about ensuring the best possible quality of life to the end for people we know and people throughout the community. Fundraising is vital to ensure that these services are maintained and developed.

“Bewley’s is privileged and delighted to be involved for the 13th year. Every cup of our coffee consumed tomorrow on behalf of the hospice movement goes a long way to making a difference to someone’s quality of life,” Bewley’s chairman Patrick Bewley, said.