The Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation supported patients across Mayo and Roscommon through its hospice inpatient, day care and community palliative care services in 2025, as demand for specialist palliative care continues to grow across both counties.
The Mayo Hospice Inpatient Unit, now in its fifth year of operation, cared for 288 patients during 2025, while the Palliative Care Support Unit in Roscommon recorded 142 admissions. The length of stay in the 14-bed Mayo Hospice increased by 30%, from 10 to 13 days, reflecting the complexity of care required by patients with life-limiting illnesses.
Of those admitted to Mayo Hospice, 63% had a malignant diagnosis and 37% had a non-malignant diagnosis, while 27% were discharged home or to another community-based setting. Almost all patients admitted to Mayo Hospice (98%) had a waiting time of less than seven days.
In Roscommon, 50.7% of patients admitted to the Palliative Care Support Unit, now in its third year of operation, had a malignant diagnosis and 49.3% had a non-malignant diagnosis. Almost 38% of admissions were transfers from inpatient wards within Roscommon University Hospital, while 22% of patients were discharged home or to nursing homes.
Specialist Palliative Care in the Community
The Foundation also supports specialist palliative care for patients in their own homes and communities across Mayo and Roscommon.
In Mayo, the Community Palliative Care Team cared for 1,987 patients during 2025, including 641 new referrals. Of these patients, 62% had non-malignant conditions and 38% had cancer-related conditions.
In Roscommon, the Community Palliative Care Team received 250 new referrals in 2025, including 151 cancer and 99 non-cancer referrals, and recorded 163 deaths at home. The team made 2,331 visits during the year.
Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation supports the Mayo and Roscommon community teams in partnership with the HSE. During 2025, the Foundation funded an additional nurse and part-time administrator and also supported complementary therapy in the community, clinical supervision for staff, night nursing, home help and family support.
Specialist Therapies and Support
Patients and families in both counties benefited from a range of specialist therapies and supports throughout the year. At Mayo Hospice, 1,426 therapy sessions were provided through the Inpatient Unit. Day Care also supported 106 patients, with 475 attendances and a further 758 therapy sessions delivered during 2025.
Specialist therapies at Mayo Hospice included:
- Art therapy: 51 sessions delivered to 44 patients
- Physiotherapy: 751 treatments for 191 patients
- Aromatherapy: 599 treatments delivered to 168 patients
- Occupational therapy: 701 treatments delivered to 204 patients
In Roscommon, the Foundation funded complementary therapy for two days per week, providing treatments including energy healing, reflexology, sound therapy and aromatherapy to patients and their families.
The Medical Social Work team at Mayo Hospice recorded 962 contacts with patients, 907 contacts with carers and 523 bereavement support services during 2025.
In Roscommon, social work support included financial assistance for seven families experiencing hardship while caring for a loved one. Support included assistance with home help, funeral and transport costs, as well as resources to help families understand children’s needs following bereavement and support memory-making activities.
Bereavement and Family Support
Bereavement support continued to be an important part of the services provided in both counties.
Mayo Hospice introduced its first Children’s Bereavement Group during 2025, supporting children aged between six and 12 through creative and activity-based sessions designed to help them understand grief, express their emotions, build coping skills and connect with other children facing similar experiences.
The annual remembrance service at Mayo Hospice saw 243 candles lit in memory of people who passed away under the care of the hospice during 2025.
In Roscommon, the Foundation funded the commissioning of a Children’s Memorial Garden on the grounds of Roscommon Hospice. The garden provides a peaceful and sacred space for families to reflect and remember children who have died while receiving care from the community palliative care team.
Volunteers
Volunteers continued to play an important role in supporting patients, families and services across both counties. At Mayo Hospice, 49 volunteers supported care services during 2025, while a further 500 people gave their time to fundraising activities.
In Roscommon, 28 volunteers contributed more than 163,000 minutes during the year across roles including reception, gardening, hospitality, dog therapy and hairdressing.
The Roscommon Hospice Volunteer Service was nominated for two awards during the year, receiving acknowledgement through the National Volunteer Ireland Awards and being shortlisted in the Community Cause Champion category at the Roscommon Volunteer Awards.
Statement from Martina Jennings, CEO
Martina Jennings, CEO of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, said:
“We have an important insight into the changing needs of patients and families who require specialist palliative care across Mayo and Roscommon. We are seeing demand across our inpatient, day care and community services, and our role is about much more than clinical care.
“It is about supporting the patient and their family throughout their journey, whether that is through specialist therapies, medical social work, bereavement support, complementary therapies or helping someone to remain at home or return to another community setting.
“In both Mayo and Roscommon, we are committed to ensuring that people receive specialist palliative care in the setting that best meets their needs, whether at home, in the community or in a hospice or hospital setting. The introduction of the Children’s Bereavement Group in Mayo and the development of the Children’s Memorial Garden in Roscommon are examples of how our services continue to evolve to meet the needs of patients and families at some of the most difficult times in their lives.
“None of this would be possible without the dedicated staff, our partners, volunteers, supporters and the wider communities of Mayo and Roscommon. It is vital that we continue to fundraise to ensure we can sustain and develop these services and continue to provide specialist palliative care, free of charge, to patients and families who need it.”
