Annual Report 2003 Living to the End

annual report 2003 living to the end chairman’s statement ..............................................3 chief executive’s report ............................................4 launch of resource centre ........................................6 education and training..............................................7 the thérèse brady library ........................................8 service support ..........................................................9 research ....................................................................10 development ............................................................11 fundraising ..............................................................12 corporate and financial information ......................15 statement of financial activities..............................16 balance sheet ..........................................................17 commmentary on financial statements ................18 letter from the chairman appropriately trained personnel. It is As I hand over to my successor, Michael intended that its various initiatives in training, O’Reilly, I take the opportunity to thank my information, education and service support fellow Directors for all their support and should make it a national resource for their generous contribution to the work of hospice professionals and volunteers as well the Board and its committees. I would also as a wider audience of potential users. like to welcome two new Board members, Maryrose Barrington and Trevor Bowen. our vision Progress has been made in many areas, as will be detailed elsewhere in this report. Finally, I want to pay special tribute to the That no one should have to face death without appropriate care and But without funding nothing would be Foundation’s Chief Executive, Jean possible, and another memorable event Manahan, and to all the staff, in whose support, including support for the family and extending into bereavement. this year was the launch of Peter & The continued commitment and Wolf, one of our most exciting fundraising professionalism the Board has every ventures ever. Heartfelt thanks are due to confidence. Undoubtedly the highlight of 2003 was the all involved in this very special initiative, completion of the move to Morrison which successfully travelled to London, Chambers and the launch of the IHF New York and Los Angeles. The Education & Bereavement Resource Centre. international dimension provided the Many years of hard work have gone into the impetus for a Board decision that the development of this facility, and it is deeply Foundation should begin to support hospice our mission statement satisfying to see such a truly worthwhile projects in developing countries, for project come to fruition. example in areas where AIDS is causing Bill Shipsey The Irish Hospice Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that promotes enormous suffering. This will be done Chairman of the Board This Centre is being developed in the through the intermediary of established the hospice philosophy and supports the development of hospice care. context of the Report of the National Irish and international agencies. We are Advisory Committee on Palliative Care confident that our supporters, who have (2001), which recommended that contributed so generously to the bereavement support should be available in development of hospice care in Ireland all palliative care settings, delivered by over the years, will support this decision. 3 report of the chief executive Selected developments in 2003 needs of patients with dementia, while the on the principles of hospice care. and statutory sectors. We are still in a Appreciation Children’s Palliative Care Needs Ultimately we hope that the learning process of consultation as regards the In the year in which our Education & Education and training Assessment which we are co-funding with gained will be disseminated to other potential and usefulness of such a role, Bereavement Resource Centre finally In education and training, our workshops the Department of Health and Children hospitals, with a view to improving all and are particularly concerned to ensure became a reality, I would like on behalf of on loss and bereavement have more than continues on schedule for completion in aspects of care and organisational culture that it should correspond to real need. the Foundation to thank everyone who has doubled in number. Our Certificate Course spring 2004. affecting those who die in hospitals. assisted in any way in its planning and in Children and Loss commenced in Fundraising development. Sponsors play a vital role in October, and everything is now in place for Information and resources Voluntary hospice groups The launch in October of the CD and book nearly all our fundraising activities, and we the Higher Diploma in Bereavement In our new library and information centre, During 2003, we have worked to update of Peter & The Wolf has made 2003 a very are grateful for their generosity. We are Studies to begin early next year. collection building, the acquisition of our understanding of the needs, priorities special year in Fundraising. Few can imagine also deeply thankful to all our donors and suitable hardware/software and and concerns of the independent voluntary how much time, energy, creativity and sheer benefactors, whose contributions, large Bereavement support is, of course, only computerised cataloguing of resources hospice groups around the country in the hard work have gone into the development and small, continue to make possible the one aspect of hospice care, and while we continued through the year. The aim is to current climate of change and uncertainty of this very special project, or how many work we do in support of hospice and have long had a particular focus on this build a knowledge centre of excellence in palliative care services and in the health people have been involved. It would be palliative care. My thanks also to those area, we are also interested in formal consisting of both physical and online sector generally. This has been done impossible to mention them all individually, organisations – and committed individuals education and research in the wider field. resources, to be made as widely through meetings held in Morrison but I would like to say a huge thank you to within them – which have become our We are particularly concerned that the accessible as possible. As part of this Chambers as well as visits to various sites Gavin Friday, Maurice Seezer and Bono; to partners and associates in initiatives which multidisciplinary nature of hospice and process, our website is undergoing a around the country. all our sponsors; to every member of the would not have been possible otherwise. palliative care should be reflected in the complete re-design. Peter & The Wolf committee and especially education programmes and structures that We have also undertaken or are to Project Director, Marie Donnelly, whom I would like to express my sincere support it. This year we entered into Project on hospital care investigating the feasibility of various we are indeed fortunate to have as a appreciation to Bill Shipsey, Chairman, and exploratory talks with representatives of Over 60% of all deaths annually in Ireland support initiatives. During the year we member of our Board. to all of the Board of Directors for their different university departments to take place in a hospital or similar carried out a survey of all the voluntary advice and support throughout the year. consider how best the Irish Hospice institution. This has been the background hospice groups in the country. This has Staff changes Finally, I want to congratulate the staff of Foundation might contribute to the for the development of our ‘hospice- resulted in a report and a listing containing We have had an unusual injection of new the Foundation for all their hard work and This year has been about both change and development of such structures. The friendly hospital’ concept, on which work detailed information not currently available blood in 2003 following the move to larger dedication. It is a privilege to lead such a continuity. Change, because it has been response to these approaches has been began in 2002 and intensified this year. We elsewhere. The listing will be made premises and an expansion of services. talented team – my warmest thanks to all marked by a number of important very positive and discussions will continue are now proceeding in close cooperation publicly accessible next year. I would like to welcome Maura Dunne, of them for their loyalty, commitment and milestones: our installation in new next year. with the North Eastern Health Board and Breffni McGuinness, Emer O’Riordan, good humour. premises in January, the launch of our are at the final stage of planning for a two- We have also allocated funding for the Caroline Pfeifer and Oona Walls. I also Education & Bereavement Resource Research year project to be piloted in a major creation of a number of posts aimed at want to pay special tribute to George Centre in May, and at year end the The main development in this area was the general hospital in the region in 2004. providing support in the regions. Two types Byrne, who retired in December after 15 retirement of our longest-standing staff identification of a suitable candidate and of post are envisaged, one focusing on years devoted service to the Irish Hospice member. Continuity has been apparent in project for the awarding of a three-year The aim of this initiative – which has yet to general development,

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