A new beginning for the delivery of hospital services for the children of Ireland

Press Release - for immediate release.

Children in Hospital Ireland

15 October 2009

A new beginning for the delivery of hospital services for the children of Ireland.

The Board and Staff of Children in Hospital Ireland (CHI) warmly welcomes the announcement this afternoon (Thursday 15 October, 2009) of the awarding of the contract for the design of the new Children's Hospital of Ireland.

Mary O'Connor, CHI's Chief Executive says "The organisation is delighted that this important milestone in the process of developing a new paediatric hospital for Ireland the greater Dublin area has been reached.

Children in Hospital Ireland has been campaigning for many years for the rationalisation of the delivery of general paediatric services in Dublin and for the rationalisation of paediatric tertiary services for the whole country.

The development of the new hospital will put Ireland at the cutting edge in the delivery of hospital services for children.

Mary O'Connor added, "Since the development of the new hospital was first proposed by Minister Harney, CHI has actively participated in the consultative process to ensure the new hospital will offer the best facilities and care to the children of Dublin and the whole country.

O'Connor continued, "In addition to the effect on the services provided in the Dublin region, the new hospital will provide a central hub of excellence for all children's units around the country. The development of the hospital will raise standards of hospital care for all sick children nationally."

Over the last number of years Children in Hospital Ireland has been fully involved in the consultative process, culminating with a comprehensive submission* earlier this year, which was welcomed by the hospital's development team.

The organisation is also delighted to welcome the design team consortium of Murray O'Laoire Brian O'Connell + NBBJ Architects on board.

Mary O'Connor stated, "We are familiar with the splendid work of Murray O'Laoire in the Ark Children's Unit in the Mid Western Regional Hospital and in the Midland regional Hospital in Tullamore. We know their experience and that of their consortium partners in Ireland and with their international projects will impact most positively on the development of the new Children's Hospital of Ireland. We look forward to working with the consortium on the project.

Ends.

*Complete submission available from ceo@childreninhospital.ie

Notes for Editors:

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 40 years promoting the emotional and developmental needs of sick children by 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 provides them with a sense of normality and offers great opportunities to socialise with other children. Children in Hospital Ireland 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.

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 are admitted through emergency departments throughout the country.
• 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.

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 on CHI's position on the new Children's Hospital of Ireland, please contact:

Mary O'Connor: 0868466861, ceo@childreninhospital.ie

 

For further information about CHI:

Locall: 1890 25 26 82 Dublin: 01 878-0448

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