Dying and Death in Ireland: What do we routinely measure, how can we improve? Report 2021
Channel: Irish Hospice
Date: 2021-11-24

‘Dying and Death in Ireland: what do we routinely measure, how can we improve?’ report. 

The report contains findings from a study conducted by researchers in Trinity College Dublin about how and where people died in Ireland between 2013 and 2018. It also reports on the type and quality of data on death and dying that are available in Ireland.  

The report reveals that cancer and heart-related disease are the leading causes of death in Ireland. In 2018, 31% of people died of cancer and 29% of heart-related conditions. Diseases of the respiratory system were the third most common cause of death (13%). The study also found an increase in deaths due to mental and behavioural disorders between 2013 and 2018. This increase was driven by higher rates of deaths due to dementia over that time. 

The report also found that hospitals were the most common place where people died between 2013 and 2018 in Ireland. Over 2 in 5 (44%) people died in our hospitals each year, followed by deaths at home (23%) and deaths in long stay residential care (23%) A further 8% of people died in specialist inpatient palliative units (hospices).