Raise a Cup of Bewley’s Coffee for Hospice
Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning aims to raise €2 million for local Hospice care.
Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin and Patrick Bewley at Bewley’s Café Grafton Street for the launch of Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice.
The Hospice movement has launched a special appeal to the public to support Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning, sponsored by Bewley’s, next month (September) as hospice providers are facing ever more serious challenges in providing services to patients and their families, and patients endure inequality in the provision of hospice services throughout the country.
Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning, launched at Bewley’s Café Grafton Street today by Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin and Patrick Bewley, is an all-island fundraising event, which raises vital funds for local hospice care services all over Ireland. Now in its seventeenth year, Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning 2010 will take place on Thursday 16th September 2010 and the target is to raise €2 million – that’s 1 million cups of Bewley’s coffee!
People in workplaces, homes and local organisations across Ireland are being asked to hold a coffee morning and to collect €2 for each cup of Bewley’s fresh ground coffee consumed. All money raised locally stays locally and goes directly back to fund local Hospice care services.
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. Up to 13,000 patients will require access to hospice and specialist palliative care by 2016.
International studies show that patients using hospice services consume at least 25% fewer medical resources than those who access “usual care.” This 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 spectacular inequality of provision in hospice services throughout the country, with the south east, midlands and north east faring worst. For example, the expenditure in the midlands where there are no hospice beds is €7 per capita, compared to €33 in the Mid West.
Eugene Murray, CEO of the Irish Hospice Foundation said: “Clearly resources are not being allocated based on objective need. We believe that hospice and palliative care services should be available to everyone who needs them. The entry ticket should not depend on whether a person has a particular illness, or on their geographical location.
“The HSE has published a five-year plan providing for 200 new beds in single rooms. We believe that this can be achieved within the HSE’s own re-configuration programme. There are almost 40,000 state funded acute and long term care beds. Most of these are occupied by patients who are near end of life and would prefer to be in the care of a palliative care service. This aims to move the balance of care from acute to primary and community care.
The Hospice movement in Ireland appeals to the public to continue their generosity this year and support Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning. This will help ensure that vulnerable families in local communities enjoy a quality end-of-life service.”
Patrick Bewley of Bewley’s said: “We’re delighted to be involved with Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning, celebrating its seventeenth year in 2010. As in previous years, over a million cups of Bewley’s coffee will be served on this special day in September. We want as many people as possible to take part all over Ireland. The more cups of coffee that we can give away, the greater the benefit that will be achieved for hospices and communities all over Ireland.”
Anyone can host a coffee morning and Bewley’s provides the fresh ground coffee free of charge. Registration advice and details on how to get your special complimentary Bewley’s fresh ground coffee pack can be obtained by contacting your local hospice group or by calling the Irish Hospice Foundation on (01) 679 3188.
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If you plan to host a Coffee Morning you can make use of our convenient Online Coffee Morning Invitation Form to invite family, friends and colleagues.
