Hospice or palliative care is a special type of care for people whose illness may no longer be curable. It strives to enable them to achieve the best possible quality of life during the final stages of their illness. Hospice care also embraces families and friends by supporting them through the illness and into bereavement.

WHO Definition of Palliative Care: "Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual."

There is no cost to patients or families for any of the hospice services. The service is partially financed by the Health Service Executive and relies upon the generous support of the public. Please see our Fundraising section for ways you can help.

Referral forms are available from the hospice, all hospitals in our catchment area of North Dublin City and County and GP surgeries. Referral by GPs or hospital doctors/Consultants is essential.

We usually ask our volunteers to give a regular weekly commitment of 3-4 hours. For an idea of the different roles our volunteers fill, and for information on applying to volunteer, please see our Volunteer section.

Your comments, complaints and suggestions are welcomed as they allow us to continually improve our services. We recognise that there may be times when you are not satisfied with our service and you may wish to make a complaint.  If you have any concerns about any aspect of your care or the services provided at St. Francis Hospice Dublin, we advise you to speak to the person in charge of the area. They will address your concerns as quickly as possible.  If it hasn't been possible to resolve your concerns locally, you may wish to make a formal complaint in writing. Please send your complaint to:

The Complaints Officer,
St. Francis Hospice Dublin,
Station Road,
Raheny,
Dublin 5,
D05 E392.

All complaints will be treated confidentially and will be processed in a timely and efficient manner in accordance with the hospice’s Complaints Policy.

We aim to give the best possible care to our patients and their families. If you have an idea or suggestion which you feel would benefit others who use our services, please let us know.

If you are pleased with the services we have provided, please tell us. Our staff and volunteers always welcome comments from patients and visitors to the hospice. We also have comments boxes in the reception areas of our hospices in Raheny and Blanchardstown.