One of Ireland’s leading children’s charities, Children in Hospital Ireland, has commended the Government’s commitment to the provision of a world-class hospital for the children of the nation.
Last Thursday, a statement from the charity declared that: “After 16 years waiting, the sick children of Ireland finally get good news today!”
CEO of Children in Hospital Ireland, Ms Mary O'Connor, said: “We are delighted with this positive news. For over 16 years, Children in Hospital Ireland has been highlighting the need for a new children’s hospital.
“The new hospital will deliver secondary care for the children of the greater Dublin area and will provide tertiary specialist care for children from all over the country who have serious and complex health needs,” said Ms O'Connor.
Fine Gael Dublin Central TD, Mr Paschal Donohoe, also welcomed the news that the funding for the New National Children’s Hospital, under the Capital Investment Programme 2012-2016, is to go ahead, with construction expected to commence in 2013.
“The fact that funding for the New Children’s Hospital, which will be located on the Mater site, has been given the green light is a clear signal that the health of our children is a top priority for this Government,” he said.
“I am delighted that a licensing arrangement has been reached which will allow for part of the funding to come from the National Lottery, as without it, severe difficulty would have been encountered in progressing the project.
“An opportunity exists here to create a world-class facility that will meet the healthcare needs of all our children,” said Mr Donohoe.
Mr Joe Costello TD, the Labour Party deputy for Dublin Central, also welcomed the Government’s recent capital spending decisions.
“The allocation of almost 4 billion euro on Capital Projects in 2012 -2016 is to be welcomed in the present economic climate. I am particularly pleased that two major capital projects will proceed in my constituency of Dublin Central,” said Mr Costello, referring to both the Children’s hospital and an extension of the LUAS project.
“It is to be greatly welcomed that, in these times of austerity, the Government is targeting its capital investment programme at job creation and at the health and education of the children of the nation,” he said.
Long-awaited children’s hospital
Children in Hospital Ireland say that there are an average of 270,000 hospital visits by children each year, with 140,000 children staying overnight or longer.
A voluntary organisation, CHI is dedicated to “making hospital a happier place for children.” This is achieved by focussing on children’s needs for emotional security, supporting and helping parents, promoting awareness among policymakers of the needs of sick children, and by promoting the benefits of play in hospitals. CHI’s trained and vetted PlayWell volunteers organise games and fun activities in 20 hospitals around the country, and provide more than 40,000 hours of play in Irish hospitals each year.
Children in Hospital Ireland outlined how sick children and their families will benefit from the new hospital.
According to the charity, all services will be provided under one roof, eliminating the ferrying of patients between hospitals. There will be appropriate environments with play and educational facilities for patients from 0 to 18 years of age, allowing, for example, teenagers to be teenagers when in hospital.
Parents and families will benefit from appropriate facilities and support, with the mattress on the floor becoming a memory.
All CHI volunteers are Garda vetted before being placed in a hospital. To become a volunteer, please contact www.childreninhospital.ie
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