Summary
In a report published by The Connacht Tribune, it was revealed that patients at University Hospital Galway were denied last rites if they died after 9 p.m. due to a reduction in chaplaincy hours mandated by the Health Service Executive (HSE) for compliance with employment laws. This change resulted from HSE’s decision to reduce the number of daily chaplains working at UHG, necessitating a shift from a 24/7 service to a 12-hour per day schedule effective in May 2025. The reduction in hours was based on public sector staffing regulations requiring staff to work less than 39 hours weekly. Diocese of Galway officials confirmed that these changes were “broadly accurate.” As a result, Catholic patients are now warned that they will not receive last rites if their death occurs outside the earlier scheduled hours.
Key Topics
Galway Hospital, Last Rites, Budget Cuts
