It's hoped that the HSE can provide a satisfactory solution to the future of palliative care services in Athlone.
Over 1.4 million euro was raised locally for the current four bed palliative care unit but the HSE plans to reduce this to two beds operating out of St Vincent's Care Centre in the short term and then a move into the new Clonbrusk centre in the longer term.
The South Westmeath Hospice committee say the current proposal being put forward, which will reduce bed spaces and palliative care capacity in Athlone, is not what they had hoped for.
They claim updated plans presented by the HSE at a meeting this week 'consisted of a single A3 page which was not to scale with no floor areas noted on the plans' which they have described as "totally unacceptable."
A further meeting between the group and officials is to take place next week after some progress was made at a meeting earlier this week,
Chairperson Claire Lennon is hopeful however that more progress can be made:
