Brew Up A Storm For Hospice
Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning aims to raise €2.5 million for local Hospice care.
The Hospice community has launched a special appeal to the public to support Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning, sponsored by Bewley’s, as hospice providers are facing more serious challenges in providing services to patients and their families, due to cutbacks in public funding and increasing demand for services.
Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning, launched at Bewley’s Café Grafton Street today by Sharon Ní Bheoláin, is an all-island fundraising event, which raises vital funds for local hospice care services all over Ireland. Now in its sixteenth year, Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning 2009 will take place on Thursday 17th September 2009 and the target is to raise €2.5 million – that’s over 1.25 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 over 6,000 people use hospice services every year. It is estimated that up to 13,000 patients will require access to hospice and specialist palliative care in 2016.
International studies have shown 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.
Last month, the Health Service Executive released the publication Palliative Care Services – Five Year Development Framework 2009-2013 which outlines key developments that will take place over the coming years to fill deficits in the palliative care service in Ireland.
The Framework outlines 41 national priority actions which will deliver over 272 posts and 203 specialist in-patient (hospice) beds over a five year period. The nine new in-patient units identified in the Framework document will be located in Blanchardstown, Castlebar, Cavan, Kilkenny, Tralee, Tullamore, Drogheda, Waterford and Wicklow.
Patrick Bewley said: “We’re delighted to be involved with Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning, celebrating its sixteenth year in 2009. 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.
