South Tipperary Hospice makes great strides in quest to expand its care services

Pictured above: The Board of South Tipperary Hospice Movement at the charity's centre at The Quay in Clonmel. Back row: Cal Flavin, Michael O’Loughlin, Eileen Cronin, John O’Heney, Eamon Lacey; Front: Anne Cuffe, Chairman Sean O’Donovan and Ann Guida. Picture John D. Kelly

It’s an exciting time of expansion for South Tipperary Hospice Movement with grief support for children the latest in a series of new care services it has introduced over the past two years.

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Leading the 35-year-old charity through this period of development of its care services for people with terminal illness from south Tipperary and west Waterford is Sean O’Donovan from Coolmoyne, Fethard.

He was re-elected South Tipperary Hospice Movement’s Board Chairman for a second year at its AGM in May.

The famous election slogan, “A lot Done, More To Do”, aptly sums up the charity’s packed agenda with the move to a larger premises in Clonmel among the changes on the way.

Sean explains the HSE’s decision in 2023 to fully fund the charity’s team of nurses providing palliative care to Hospice clients, principally in their homes, was the catalyst for the expansion of its services.

Up to April 2023, a HSE grant covered part of the nurses’ wages and South Tipperary Hospice funded the shortfall through fundraising.

South Tipperary Hospice was at a “crossroads” at that time, Sean recalls.

Wexford Hospice was in the same position and decided to wind up but South Tipperary Hospice decided to increase the care services it provides to complement the palliative care nurses work.

“We had to more or less reinvent the wheel and start from scratch. In the last 12 months, there have been significant developments in what we do.”

While the HSE is now fully responsible for funding the palliative care nurses, South Tipperary Hospice continues to work very closely with them.

Sean says the charity meets regularly with the team of palliative care nurses and Palliative Medicine Consultant Dr Áine Ní Laoire. It also works with Clonmel GP Dr Bernadine Rochford.

“The nurses send patients and families to us for the services we provide. We are actually getting in earlier to provide help, as early as the time of diagnosis.

“There is a perception the Hospice is about helping people who have cancer but we help anyone with an illness or condition that is ultimately life changing.”

The range of services South Tipperary Hospice has rolled out in the past two years is impressive.

Last year the charity began funding carers to provide personal care in the home to Hospice clients.

The nurses and GPs identify the patients who require this help and the Hospice engages the carers through agencies.

Another new initiative is a team of volunteer drivers who transport Hospice patients to healthcare appointments when they are unable to use public transport and do not have family or friends able to take them.

Sean says they welcome new drivers to join the team that currently has about 16 volunteers.

The Hospice provides free complementary therapies such as Acupuncture, Reiki, reflexology and massage to patients who find them beneficial.

Since last autumn, music therapy is also available and is provided by Joe Roche, a tenor singer and qualified music therapist.

Sean outlines the Hospice also provides one-to-one counselling for patients and family members dealing with a terminal illness diagnosis and bereavement counselling. Pauline Connolly is the Hospice’s main counsellor.

A new bereavement support group is up and running since Christmas and Sean reports very positive feedback from participants.

An important new addition to its services since June is grief support for children.

“We have done a good bit of research on this service and expect there will be a lot of demand for it.

“It’s very difficult to access grief support for children under the age of 18 so that is why we have set up the service,” Sean explains.

South Tipperary Hospice is, meanwhile, working closely with the HSE to support the provision of three new Level 2 palliative care beds in Clonmel’s new St Anthony's Community Nursing Unit that is due to open later this year.

And the charity is providing significant funding to develop family rooms and an outdoor area for relatives of patients of the two palliative care beds at Cluain Arann in Tipperary Town. Sean says work is expected to start on this project in the autumn.

Another major development on the horizon is moving the Hospice centre to larger premises to accommodate its new services.

The Hospice has purchased the first floor of Tower House, also on The Quay in Clonmel, just up the street from its current premises.

Sean says the Hospice’s new centre will have three therapy rooms and a large multi-purpose room for meetings and group counselling.

He was drawn to volunteering with South Tipperary Hospice Movement by the tremendous support the charity provided to his late mother, Teresa, who died from cancer.

“The care she received was fantastic and it gave us comfort to know her pain was being managed. It put her at peace too to accept where things were going,” he recalls.

This experience and observing how South Tipperary Hospice helped neighbours and friends, prompted him to give back to the charity by organising an annual fundraising concert in Clonmel’s Hotel Minella featuring performances from the Clonmel Concert Band under Danny Carroll, local schools, musical societies and special guests.

This year’s concert is planned for October.

Sean joined the Hospice Board six years ago and served as its vice-chairman before his election as chairman last year.

The retired transport and fuel distribution businessman brings a wealth of experience as a community leader to the role.

He is a former chairman of Moyle Rovers Ladies Football Club where he also managed teams. He managed Tipperary Ladies Football team between 2011 and 2013.

Sean also served on Clerihan National School’s Board of Management and also chaired Fethard Ballroom Committee at a time when a lot of development was carried out on the premises.

Sean pays tribute to his fellow South Tipperary Hospice Board members, many of whom have joined over the past three years.

“We are very lucky to have such a group of like minded people and we work very well together. I want to acknowledge the people that went before us and did great work and gave many years of service”

Jennie Hannigan and Terry Curran, South Tipperary Hospice Movement’s administrators at its centre on The Quay in Clonmel. Picture John D. Kelly

He says South Tipperary Hospice is also very lucky to have Terry Curran and Jennie Hannigan as its administrators who run the centre that is open between 10am and 4pm, five days a week.

The public are welcome to visit the centre at Mandeville House, The Quay, Clonmel or phone it at (052) 6127721 for information on the Hospice’s services.

Sean stressed the Hospice wouldn’t be able to help patients and their families without public fundraising.

The proceeds of national campaigns like the Sunflower Days collection and Bewley’s Coffee Mornings boost South Tipperary Hospice’s coffers but the charity is mostly dependent on local fundraising.

The South Tipperary Hospice Support Group organises fundraising events. The Hospice also receives donations from a diverse range of sports, social and vintage car clubs as well as private individuals and families, many of whom the charity has helped.

South Tipperary Hospice charity shop on Castle Street in Cahir, spearheaded by Biddy Ryan, provides a regular income stream.

“We thank all who fundraise for South Tipperary Hospice. Local fundraising is our lifeline and it couldn’t happen without the public’s support, which I think comes from the personal experience people have with the Hospice be it with a neighbour, family member or friend,” says Sean.

The year ahead will be busy for Sean O’Donovan and the Board of South Tipperary Hospice but also one full of optimism for the charity’s future.

“We hope to move into our new premises early next year.

“We will focus on further developing the services we already have and exploring new ideas and services to support the patients and their families as much as possible in a meaningful way,” he adds.

South Tipperary Hospice Movement’s charity shop volunteers at the shop at Castle Street, Cahir. From left: Phil Ryan, Biddy Ryan, Nora May Kennedy and Patrice Ryan. Picture Maria Taylor

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