The Galway Hospice hopes it may be able to reopen before the autumn, following "very positive discussions" with its clinical director, Dr Dympna Waldron. Lorna Siggins, Western Correspondent, reports.
Mr Finbarr Fitzpatrick, chief executive of the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association, has confirmed that Dr Waldron will be returning to duties at the hospice next month, subject to new medical protocols being signed off in advance.
Mr Fitzpatrick said he understood that a British-based consultant was about to sign off on the new procedures, which had been recommended in the independent review of the Galway Hospice. The initial target would then be to reopen four to six beds, he said.
Earlier this year, Dr Waldron had withdrawn from all negotiations aimed at resuming admissions to the 12-bed unit in Renmore, Galway.
The Western Health Board (WHB), which employs the palliative consultant, was informed that this was on medical grounds, and it agreed to employ a locum on a 12-month basis.
To date, efforts to recruit a locum have not been successful, and it is understood that a hospice board meeting last week discussed the possibility of Dr Waldron's return.
The WHB declined to comment on the issue, but Dr Richard Joyce, chairman of the Galway Hospice board, said "very positive discussions" had taken place between the board and the WHB.
As Dr Waldron was on annual leave, details still had to be confirmed, he said.
"We feel that we may be close to resolving the issue," he told The Irish Times. "Obviously we would welcome Dr Waldron back with open arms."
The search for a locum would continue as two posts had been sanctioned for the hospice by the WHB, he added.
It was Dr Waldron's decision to stop all new referrals to the hospice last May - due to her concerns over medication procedures - which led to an independent review that identified a series of medication errors.
The review said the errors had been made by both medical and nursing staff, and it outlined 65 recommendations aimed at avoiding a recurrence.
Separately, the WHB said it was investigating a series of bullying allegations made by nursing staff against the clinical director.
Efforts to reopen the unit after the review's publication were delayed when Dr Waldron withdrew from negotiations before signing off on new protocols.
The consultant continued to fulfil her duties at University College Hospital, Galway, where seriously-ill cancer patients who might have been referred to the hospice were given beds.
Community groups protesting at the hospice's continued closure said such an acute setting was not suitable for patients requiring palliative care - and this was reiterated just last week by the Irish Nurses' Organisation.