Hospice extension to go to planning

Plans for a new state-of-the-art and fully-equipped 13-bed extension to St Christopher's Hospice are set to be lodged in the coming week.

As much as €7.5m is expected to be spent on extending the specialist palliative care, inpatient hospice and community care facility at Drumalee, Loreto Road.

Earlier this year Health Minister Stephen Donnelly confirmed that €1 million in funding allocated in late 2021 is still on the table.

The planned extension includes a part single-storey, part two-storey extension to side and rear of the existing hospice building.

This will provide for 13 additional bedrooms and ancillary accommodation, bringing the total number of rooms available to 16, together with an enclosed courtyard with landscaping and alterations to existing accommodation and internal layouts plans and elevations.

Planning, if granted, will also provide for an external covered shelter and walkway, an extension to the entrance lobby to the front of the current building, and new car parking facilities.

Plans for the extension were drafted by Butlersbridge-based Michael Fitzpatrick Architects.

The project is being delivered in conjunction with the Board of Trustees at St Christopher’s and the HSE.

The HSE previously confirmed that palliative care support beds at St Christopher's are being temporarily relocated to facilitate any proposed works.

Hundreds of thousands of euro have been raised over the life time of the hospice through various charity events, including close to €500,000 to date by the Ciaran Weir organised ‘Gallant Challenge’.

The event is now entering its 17th year, and takes place every October bank holiday weekend.