A VERY special ‘Tree of Life’ was officially unveiled last week at the Mater Hospital to celebrate their work to improve end-of-life care in the hospital.
Over 300 staff, patients and their families have lovingly created the giant artwork.
It features unique ‘leafs’ on which some people memorialise a family member or friend who had died, while others added handprints or thumbs up for good end-of-life care.
The artwork is part of celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of the Irish Hospice Foundation’s (IHF) Hospice Friendly Hospital (HFH) programme.
The programme seeks to ensure end-of-life, palliative and bereavement care are central to the everyday business of hospitals.
Speaking at the unveiling of the artwork at the Mater, End-of-Life Care Coordinator Diarmuid Ó Coimín said the response to it had been overwhelming.
“We expected 150-250 but within half an hour over 300 people had created art works,” he added.
“We are truly delighted with the feedback and support of patients, staff and their families creating well-deserved awareness for the Hospice Friendly Hospital programme.
“In turn, improved patient care will be delivered as result of this engagement.”
Hospitals all across Dublin have been commemorating how they support better end-of-life care for their patients and families.
The IHF has launched special Hospice Friendly Hospitals 10th Anniversary Grants to help celebrate the work and progress achieved across the ever-growing network of hospitals under its remit since being established in 2007.
Grants totalling €10,000 were awarded to hospitals nationwide, with HFH End-of-Life Care coordinators organising workshops for staff, patients and their families, hosting special awareness days and coffee mornings, publishing new multilingual information leaflets etc.
Other projects have already been completed, like in Tallaght Hospital where two special lamps have been designed thanks to their HFH grant.
‘Grecian Waves’ and ‘Autumn Glow’ from the Chronos Series (Greek word meaning Time) are two stunning handcrafted stained glass and wood lamps created by artist Clíona Baker for use in end-of-life care in the hospital.
They feature a colour changing LED lighting display that captivates and promotes a calming, relaxed and peaceful atmosphere for patients and family members within a room.
In Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin (OLCHC), a special bag has been developed to gift to parents when staff are handing over mementoes to them.
These include items like baptismal candles, memorial books, memory boxes, ceramic handprints and footprints that they make in the hospital.
OLCHC End-of-Life Care Coordinator Carol Hilliard said: “A lot of the children who die in Crumlin have never been home and have never had to opportunity to make these memories.
“The mementoes are tangible memories they’ve made with their children and this new bag marks the significance of what is contained within.”
Sharon Foley CEO of the IHF said it was fantastic that so much great work has been delivered in hospitals over the last 10 years to help those near end of life and their families.
“Staff across the country have put so much time into the programme that it was only right to celebrate its success,” she continued.
“Our vision is for all hospitals to continue this path and have offer patients the best end-of-life care possible and we will continue to work closely with hospitals and staff to achieve this.”