Irish Hospice Foundation/HSE announce fourth round of Design & Dignity grants

Following the tremendous success of the first three rounds of Design & Dignity Projects, the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) and the HSE has announced a new fund for another round of projects.

Recognising how deeply people are affected by their surroundings, the Design & Dignity Project has developed a range of ‘exemplar’ projects within public acute hospitals. To date, over 30 projects around Ireland have been supported.

Hospitals have created relaxing, spacious family rooms within busy acute wards, upgraded mortuaries into welcoming, respectful environments and redesigned viewing rooms in emergency departments and bereavement suites in maternity units.

Hospitals around Ireland will benefit from the grant fund, which is operated and co-funded by the IHF and HSE, which will help transform older/dated spaces including family rooms, in-patient units and mortuaries.
 
In 2018, the IHF is also collaborating with Rosabel’s Rooms through its Design & Dignity project. A key aim of Rosabel’s Rooms is to facilitate the development of family-focussed bereavement suites in hospital emergency departments around Ireland.

Sharon Foley, CEO of the Irish Hospice Foundation, commented: “Every year 28,000 people in Ireland die and 43% die in acute hospitals. The Design & Dignity scheme aims to bring design excellence to hospitals where so many people spend their last days.  New facilities are a sanctuary for patients and families at a very distressing time, and allow them the proper space and privacy they need. Thanks to the leadership and support of the HSE the grants have improved facilities in over 30 hospital projects across the country and are delighted to announce more project funding for 2018.”

Guidance on the type of projects that will be considered for grants and an application form can be found at www.hospicefoundation.ie

The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 14th of September 2018.