The number of people dying in Ireland from a condition that will require general and specialist palliative care is set to increase by 57 per cent in the next 20 years from 25,669 to 40,355, report finds
Two-thirds of people who lost a loved one said that the deceased person was not told that they were likely to die, a new report on dying in Ireland has found.
The Irish Hospice Foundation publication, Dying, Death and Bereavement in Ireland 2026, said that, without targeted investment and planning, the country is facing a potential future crisis in end-of-life care and support for people who are bereaved.
Because patients weren’t told of their imminent death, this lack of communication meant that the person dying missed opportunities to make appropriate arrangements, and family members were not fully aware that their loved one was about to die.
The report also highlighted significant gaps in out-of-hours palliative care. Referring to an Irish Medical Times report which found that more than 5,000 people died in or on the way to emergency departments (EDs) between 2019 and 2023, the report authors argued that a lack of out-of-hours support for people receiving end-of-life care may be leading to an increase in people attending an ED when medical intervention is required.
“It’s essential that everyone who calls Ireland home has the opportunity to experience a good death, and that requires a set of supports and services that are wide ranging and effective,” said Irish Hospice Foundation CEO Paula O’Reilly.
“Irish Hospice Foundation is actively working to deliver and advocate for improvements in all areas of the dying, death and bereavement space. It is clear from the report on Dying, Death and Bereavement in Ireland 2026 that there is a need for urgent action and creative thinking across the board.”
Ireland’s older population is growing rapidly and the number of people aged over 65 is projected to double in the next 20 years, surpassing 1.5 million by the year 2046. While currently around 35,000 people die in Ireland each year, this is expected to grow to 49,000 by 2046.
The report found that the number of people dying in Ireland from a condition that will require general and specialist palliative care is set to increase by 57 per cent in the next 20 years from 25,669 to 40,355.
Research from the charity indicated that two out of three people who were recently bereaved were in employment, and more than half of people surveyed changed their working arrangements following a loss. However, there is currently no statutory right to bereavement leave in Ireland, which means that employers have no legal obligation to offer time off to employees who have lost a loved one.
“Forty years ago, the Irish Hospice Foundation was focused on introducing the hospice movement to Ireland,” added Ms O’Reilly.
“That ambition has been almost fully achieved and over the years the organisation’s focus has widened to deliver practical and meaningful support services around dying death and bereavement in Ireland.”
The Irish Hospice Foundation made a number of recommendations in the report, including:
The introduction of a register of advance healthcare directives so that preferences are clearly documented and easily accessible to healthcare professionals when important decisions need to be made.
The delivery of hospices for the Midlands and the North East, as well as the strengthening of general palliative care needs across all settings, particularly primary care.
The prioritisation of coordinated care for people at end-of-life to facilitate greater integration and continuity of care. This should include access to out-of-hours care for people.
The introduction of statutory bereavement leave for all workplaces.
The organisation also believes that conversations about death should be encouraged to reduce the stigma and fear of talking about and preparing for death amongst the public and by medical professionals.
A national conversation across Government is also required to not only ensure a commitment to ageing well, but also to die and grieve well.
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