A significant rise in patients using services of Galway Hospice
Almost 40 per cent jump in day care patients
THE GALWAY Hospice foundation supported over 1,600 patients across its services last year, a significant rise on the 1344 recorded in 2024.
The foundation's latest Annual Report shows that they had more than a 16 per cent rise in patients accessing their services last year.
The numbers highlight the growing demand for specialist palliative care across Galway and Mayo, however they have come at cost. The foundation increased its expenditure to €15,563,749 last year, an increase of over €700,000 on 2024.
Galway Hospice's Community Palliative Care Team supported 1,124 patients in their own homes, nursing homes and other community settings during 2025, an increase of 11 per cent from 1,017 patients in 2024.
Throughout the year, the team made 26,564 patient calls and 7,140 visits, compared with 21,916 calls and 6,981 visits in 2024, a 17 per cent rise in calls and 2.2 per cent rise in visits.
In 2025, 86 per cent of patients receiving care from the Community Palliative Care Team died at home, while 72 per cent of patients supported by the team were never readmitted to an acute hospital.
Despite growing demand, 99 per cent of community referrals were seen within seven days.
“The number of people accessing our services reflects both the growing need for specialist palliative care and the importance of being able to provide that care in the right place, at the right time,” commented Mary Nash, Chief Executive of Galway Hospice Foundation.
“For many people, that means remaining at home, surrounded by the people and things that are familiar to them, while having access to the specialist support they need.”
Day Care experienced significant growth during 2025, with 265 patients making 1,307 attendances across Galway and Mayo, compared with 160 patients and 991 attendances in 2024. That accounts for almost a 40 per cent rise in day care patients.
The foundation also expanded specialist therapies beyond its buildings, with Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy available in the community.
Overall, 581 patients received 8,147 therapy sessions across Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Aromatherapy, Art Therapy and Music Therapy, with Music Therapy becoming increasingly established as part of the foundation's therapeutic services.
Alongside the expansion of community-based services, 639 patients were cared for across the Galway and Mayo Inpatient Units during 2025, with 206, nearly one in three, discharged home or to another community-based setting.
Galway Hospice's 18-bed Inpatient Unit cared for 351 patients, an increase of four per cent compared with 2024, with 99 per cent of patients admitted within seven days.
The report also revealed that over 81 per cent of people in Co Galway who died with a malignant diagnosis in 2025 were cared for by Galway Hospice, showing the scale of care they are providing.
NEW AND BIGGER HOSPICE
The increasing reach and changing nature of specialist palliative care also underlined the need to ensure Galway Hospice has the capacity to respond to future demand.
Last year, an agreement was reached with the HSE to progress the development of a new, enlarged Galway Hospice, with the project continuing to advance in 2026.
“Our current facilities are no longer adequate to meet the needs of our patients and families, and this project represents an important investment in the future of specialist palliative care in Galway,” added Ms Nash.
“Demand for our services has grown significantly, and we are already operating within very limited space. A new hospice will give us the capacity to support more patients in an environment designed around their needs, while allowing us to continue developing the range of specialist services we provide.”
The Galway Hospice Foundation recorded an income of €17.29 million and expenditure of €15.56 million in 2025, a rise of €198,464 and €707,747 respectively on the 2024 figures.
Over 80 per cent of their income derived from HSE funding (€14,244,184), while the foundation’s fundraising events and their weekly draw accounted for over ten per cent of their income (€1,628,426).
Donations and bequests saw the foundation receive €404,478.
Just under half of their expenditure (€7,657,264) went towards their Inpatient Unit in Galway, with the Inpatient Unit and Daycare services at the Mayo Hospice accounted for just under 30 per cent of the money spent by the foundation in 2025 (€4,550,679).
Community services accounted for 15 per cent of their spending (€2,440,100), fundraising 3.4 per cent (€539,518), while Galway Day Care made up just over one per cent of the foundation’s expenses in 2025 (€164,166).