palliative

• Tuam Cancer Care Centre is also strongly committed to another project that Margaret Feely campaigned strongly for, that is the replacement of the palliative/respite facility that was lost with the closure of the Bon Secours Hospital in Tuam.
• The group successfully lobbied the Western Health Board (now HSE) and a two bed facility was set up in Arus Mhuire Community Hospital in the town to be used for palliative/respite care for people from the area.
• The unit could not be opened because of lack of funds for nursing staff and this was the situation at the time of Margaret’s death in April 2004.
• After her death the role of Chairperson was passed to Francis (Bert) Gilliard and he continued the work Margaret had begun. He worked tirelessly with the HSE, politicians and local and national press and radio to try and bring about the opening of the unit.
• As a result of Berts persistence and hard work some progress was made and a commitment given to provide the nursing staff needed to get the unit opened. However, Berts untimely, sudden death on 15th October 2005 interrupted this work and meant that once again Tuam Cancer Care Centre had to come to terms with the loss of a dynamic Chairperson and good friend.
• The committee, under the chairperson Eleanor Barrows, continued where Bert had left off but despite numerous commitments given since then by the HSE the unit remains closed. Tuam Cancer Care continue with their efforts though and are determined that all the work that Bert put into this project was not in vain.