Hospice fundraising - A worthy cause

The one absolute certainty in this life is that it will ultimately end in death.

So the treatment of terminally ill people should be of concern to everyone, because at some time death will affect each of us and all of our loved ones.

One day last week the Marymount hospice in Cork treated a total of 272 inpatients, day care patients, and home care patients, but 53 other terminally patients were awaiting their first home care visit. Forty-two terminally ill patients had to be turned away from hospices in Dublin for an average of five days.

On the same day last week 130 terminally ill people in the country were essentially told they had to go on a waiting list to avail of hospice care. Those people do not have time on their side.

People are coming to cities because they have relatives there, but there are no hospice services in large areas of the country. !

It is a dreadful reflection on our society that anyone should be kept waiting for hospice care.

Tomorrow marks the Irish Hospice Foundation’s national fundraising day. It is certainly a most worthy cause and everybody is encouraged to give generously.