Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill visits Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services and launches its New Five-Year Strategic Plan
17th July 2025
The Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD paid her first official visit as Minister to Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services (OLH&CS) Harold’s Cross today.
Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services (OLH&CS) provides specialist care for a wide range of needs from residential rehabilitation to end-of-life care, from our bases in Harold’s Cross (est. 1879), Blackrock (est. 2003), and Wicklow (est. 2020). OLH&CS is Ireland’s largest provider of palliative care services. During her visit, Minister Carroll MacNeill had a tour of the Harold’s Cross site, and met with residents, patients, families, and some of the volunteers that support the work of OLH&CS.
At a small event attended by members of the Hospice community, Minister Carroll MacNeill also officially launched OLH&CS’s new Five-Year Strategic Plan 2025–2030. This new strategy will guide OLH&CS as it marks its 150th anniversary in 2029, continuing to build on its legacy.
The plan includes a focus on expanding access to specialist palliative care services, older person care and rheumatology services, developing integrated care models in partnership with the HSE, investing in education, training and research, and modernising digital systems to enhance both patient and staff experience. The plan sets out five key strategic themes and actions:
· Person-Centred Services: Strengthen integrated, community-driven, and equitable care models.
· Research, Education and Training: Strengthen clinical excellence through evidence-based practice and training.
· People and Collaboration: Align structures with future service needs and enhance communication to meet future service needs.
· Digital Transformation and Innovation: Improve operational efficiency and service delivery through technology adoption and innovation.
· Sustainable Development and Fundraising: Future-proof infrastructure and secure funding for future care delivery.
Launching the Plan, Minister Carroll MacNeill commended the organisation’s leadership in the provision of palliative, older person and rheumatological healthcare services. She said: “I was really pleased to visit Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services in Harold’s Cross today and to meet the dedicated staff, volunteers, patients, and families who make this community so special. This new five-year strategic plan sets out a thoughtful vision for the future of palliative and specialist care – person-centred care, clinical excellence, and a commitment to equity and innovation.”
Lorcan Birthistle, Chair of the OLH&CS Board, said: “As we look ahead to Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services’ 150th anniversary, we are recommitting to the values that have shaped its history while embracing the innovation needed to meet future care challenges.”
Mary Flanagan, CEO of OLH&CS, said: “This Strategic Plan is rooted in our mission to deliver the right care, at the right time, in the right setting. It reflects evolving and growing needs, particularly as Ireland experiences a rapidly ageing population, together with increasing life expectancy. With the support of our dedicated staff and volunteers, we are committed to continuing to deliver a quality and compassionate service for patients and their families either that attend our sites in Harold’s Cross, Blackrock and Wicklow, as well as those that we serve throughout our catchment area through our dedicated Community Palliative Care Team.”
Serving a catchment area of more than one million people in South Dublin and Wicklow, OLH&CS provided care to over 5,600 families in 2024, as well as more than 14,920 specialist palliative care home visits. The work of its 700 general and medical staff is supported by hundreds of dedicated volunteers. To support the work of Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services please visit www.olh.ie/donate/