Laois Hospice Chooses Preferred Midlands Hospice Site

Monday, 23 September 2024 11:21

With two sites in the running, midlands Hospice groups are coming out in favour of their preferred option.

Laois Hospice has chosen its preferred site for a new midlands hospice.

Two locations are in the running for the 20-bed facility - the Wellwood Healthcare Campus, and a plot of land on Arden Lane in Tullamore.

The latter is preferred by Laois Hospice, which says it's a quieter space, could accommodate the majority of residents on the ground floor, and there's room for expansion.

Arden Lane is also favoured by the North Westmeath Hospice Group, and slightly so by an independent scoring matrix, commissioned by the HSE.

However, Offaly Hospice says it would like to see the Wellwood Healthcare Campus chosen as the home of the facility.

Among them, it lists direct access from the N52 bypass, public connectivity, and the lack of an obstacle to a planning application as some of the benefits.

It also says it has an option to buy the site and if chosen will donate it free of charge to the HSE

It's understood Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly, has made a decision on the €20 million hospice, with an announcement on the site expected imminently.