Children in Hospital Ireland meets with Minister Mary Harney to discuss the New National Paediatric Hospital

For Immediate Release

7/7/2009

Children in Hospital Ireland meets with Minister Mary Harney to discuss the New National Paediatric Hospital

Last week Children in Hospital Ireland's newly appointed Chairperson, Dympna McMahon, accompanied by Board members and CEO Mary O'Connor, met with Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney TD, and officials from her Department to discuss the development of the new National Paediatric Hospital.

The organisation highlighted the need to address the issue of the upper limit on the age of admission of children to the new facility when it comes on stream in 2014.

Commenting on the meeting, CEO Mary O'Connor noted "The development of a new paediatric hospital is of major importance in the delivery of hospital services to children. Policy developed for the new hospital will impact on how sick children are cared for throughout the country. It's imperative that the right decisions are made at this point".

Children in Hospital Ireland (CHI) proposes that the limit be set at 18 years - in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and recent Irish children's legislation.

According to the Department of Health and Children's publication: State of the Nation's Children - Ireland 2008, in 2007 19,680 children aged between 15 and 17 years were admitted to hospital.

From CHI's observations it is apparent that a significant number adolescents cared for in adult wards are experiencing care which falls short of the recommendations contained in the organisation's Charter for Children in Hospital and Guidelines for the Care of Children and Adolescents in Hospital. These older children may be deprived of:

• The right to be cared for with other children and adolescents
• Parental and family support and involvement in their care
• Appropriate accommodation - design, size, decor and facilities in ward
• Appropriate preparation for admission and treatments
• Care from paediatrically skilled and qualified medical and nursing staff who are aware of children's emotional and developmental needs
• Care from staff who are knowledgeable about the needs, interests and problems of adolescent patients in a setting where they can be catered for
• Treatment with tact and understanding and respect for privacy
• Therapeutic and recreational play facilities and activities
• Access to educational support as required
• Care and attention needed for their protection and security

Note to Editors

A copy of CHI's comprehensive 2009 submission to the development board and team of the new National Paediatric Hospital is attached.

Did you know?

• Each year in Ireland there are on average over 270,000 hospital visits by children
• 75,000 child inpatients are under 4 years old and almost all go through child emergency departments in Ireland
• CHI's trained and vetted PlayWell volunteers organise games and fun activities in 17 hospitals around the country and provide more than 40,000 hours of play in hospital each year.
• All CHI volunteers are Garda vetted before being placed in the hospital. To become a volunteer please contact www.childreninhospital.ie.

Children in Hospital Ireland is a national voluntary organisation, one of Ireland's leading children's charities, promoting the welfare of all children in hospital regardless of illness or condition. CHI has worked for nearly 40 years promoting the emotional and developmental needs of sick children and providing play in hospital. Play is an important part of childhood but in hospital it has added value. Play and fun activities reassure children and help them cope with illness and hospital. It also provides them with a sense of normality and offers great opportunities to socialise with other children. Children in Hospital Ireland also offers extensive services for parents and carers of sick children and provides an advocacy and advisory resource for planners, policymakers, the HSE and the Department of Health and Children.

The Aims of CHI:

• To promote the welfare of sick children by drawing attention to their special needs for emotional security.
• To support and help parents before, during and after their child's stay in hospital.
• To increase the awareness of policy makers and others to the special needs of sick children.
• To promote the benefits of play in hospital.

For further information:

Locall: 1890 25 26 82 Or contact Mary O'Connor: 086 8466861

E-mail: ceo@childreninhospital.ie Web: http://www.childreninhospital.ie