It is hoped that this year’s nationwide coffee morning will raise €2 million in funds for local hospice services throughout Ireland when one million cups of Bewleys fresh ground coffee are sold on Thursday, September 16th. All money raised locally stays local and goes directly to fund local hospice care services. Anyone can host a coffee morning and the sponsor, Bewley’s, provides the fresh ground coffee free of charge.
Those who host a coffee morning are asked to collect €2 for each cup of coffee. Hospice or palliative care involves the total care of patients and their families at the stage in a serious illness where the focus has switched from treatment aimed at cure to ensuring quality of life. Almost 30,000 people die annually in Ireland and more than 6,000 people use hospice services every year.
Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin at the launch of Bewley’s coffee morning to support Ireland’s hospice care.
Up to 13,000 patients will require access to hospice and specialist palliative care by 2016.
Studies from overseas show that patients using hospice services consume at least one quarter fewer medical resources than those who access usual care. The saving is linked to the fact that hospice patients are largely cared for and die at home and they use much less acute hospital services.
Hospice patients also live longer and in greater comfort and dignity. There is a great inequality of provision in hospice services throughout the country, with the south east, midlands and north east faring worst. Spend in the midlands, where there are no hospice beds, is €7 per capita, compared to €33 in the mid-west.
Anyone interested in hosting a coffee morning should contact the Irish Hospice Foundation at 679 3188.
