Community 'hurt' by HSE ‘delay’ in payment to Offaly Hospice
The community in Offaly has been left 'hurt' by a ‘delay’ in a payment by the HSE to Offaly Hospice Foundation to meet architectural costs on a potential site for the Midlands Hospice, a council meeting has been told.
At last week’s meeting of Offaly County Council, Cllr Fergus McDonnell said he was disappointed to learn of a sum of €312,000 which was spent by Offaly Hospice Foundation at the site, which the meeting was told had yet to be repaid despite what he said was a promise made at a previous meeting.
"Offaly Hospice has expended €312,000 on that site, which the HSE have promised to repay," said Cllr McDonnell.
"We have all come together to support the new site for the Midlands Hospice. I'm asking that we all support sending a letter to the HSE to make sure the HSE repay that amount."
He continued that people in the community, including volunteers and business people, have been left 'disappointed and hurt' by the ordeal after years of fundraising efforts.
"People in the community have given monumental amounts of money throughout the years. People have been left seriously hurt."
Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick shared his support for the issue, with Cathaoirleach Cllr John Leahy adding that, while the HSE intends to pay the sum back, it was “'regrettable the fact there is a delay”.
In a statement released by Offaly Hospice Foundation on Monday, December 1, the group said a site on the grounds of the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore was agreed between the HSE and Offaly Hospice in October 2020.
“Full architectural plans were completed and agreed on and ready to go to planning by October 2021. In September 2022, Government funding of €20 million was allocated for that site and those plans,” the statement continued.
In early April 2023, Tullamore Lions Club/Hooves4Hospice offered the HSE an alternative site for the Regional Hospice on Arden Lane in Tullamore.
“Despite high level contact at that time between the HSE and Offaly Hospice on the plans for designated site at the Hospital, the HSE opted not to inform Offaly Hospice about the Arden Lane site and its arrangements for almost six months. By late August 2023, it was clear the HSE had opted for Arden Lane and plans for the hospital site were effectively discarded," the group said.
“An offer by the HSE to reimburse Offaly Hospice for architect fees paid out on plans for the Hospital site remains outstanding.”
The HSE was contacted by the Offaly Independent for comment, but that at the time of going to press we had not yet received a response.