A Big Thank You from Children in Hospital Ireland

As the end of another year approaches, one of Irelands leading sick children’s charities would like to thank everyone who supported their work throughout this tough year.

This year Children in Hospital Ireland completed, 40 years of making hospital a happier place for sick children. As part of its Ruby celebrations the organisation is proud to announce the launch of its 20th PlayWell service*.

In the current weather and economic climate conditions, CHI’s services are still going strong. Reaching out to sick children and their families. The organisations volunteer-based programme recruits, trains and vets volunteers from all around the country who provide play and happiness to sick children in their local hospitals.

Dympna Mc Mahon, CHI’s Chairperson commented “It’s wonderful that people are so generous with their time- a welcome upturn in giving of one’s time and effort. This generosity of spirit makes a hospital stay happier and easier for children and their families all around the country.”

Children in Hospital Ireland has seen a significant rise of people wanting to volunteer with its PlayWell service. CHI has experienced a great interest especially from young people who are delighted to help. Many of these volunteers are unemployed and want to give their time to help with a great cause. Children in Hospital Ireland directly works with sick children to bring them fun, reassure them and help them cope with illness and being in hospital.

* PlayWell Services:

Dublin: Our Ladies Children Hospital Crumlin, Children’s University Hospital Temple Street, National Children’s Hospital Tallaght, The Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, The National Rehabilitation Hospital, Beaumont Hospital.

Limerick: Mid Western Regional Hospital.

Cork: Cork University Hospital, Mercy Hospital.

Wexford: Wexford General Hospital.

Louth: Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda.

Mayo: Mayo general Hospital.

Offaly/ Westmeath: Midland Regional Hospital

Waterford: Waterford Regional Hospital.

Galway: University College Galway Hospital, Portiuncula Hospital Ballinasloe.

Kerry: Kerry General Hospital Tralee.

Sligo: Sligo General Hospital.

Kilkenny: St Luke’s General Hospital.

Did you know?

• Each year in Ireland there are on average over 270,000 hospital visits by children.
• In 2007, there were 144,703 hospital admissions among children aged 0-17.
• 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 18 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 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 in 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 them with an advocacy and advisory resource. 

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 about CHI:

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

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