OUR AIMS

Objectives for 2011

• Extend our respite care, home support, transitional care and end of life care
• Excellence in Children's Palliative care
• Align our services to HSE/DOHC Policies
• Open LauraLynn House-Ireland's first community based Children's palliative care unit.

Our main aim is to establish a Children’s Hospice. A Hospice would provide care for children who have life limiting conditions or illness, and for whom curative treatment is not possible. Unfortunately many families have to face the reality of their child/children not reaching adulthood.

We cannot change the inevitable, but by establishing a Hospice, we can help alleviate some of the pain and suffering. As mentioned before, our wish is to Put life into a child’s day, and not days into a child’s life.

In providing a “home from home” atmosphere, we would strive to meet the needs of each individual child and his/her family.

Home care is wonderful and very necessary, but it rarely provides 24hr. care, and home can be very lonely and frightening when living with a seriously ill child. It is vital to have that break away from home, which the Hospice can provide. It is often the holiday which these families cannot otherwise have.

Our Team

Medical Director, Consultant Paediatrician, Nursing Team, Physiotherapists, Dietician, Social Worker, Speech & Language Therapist, Chaplain and Volunteers.

How to make a referral

Complete the attached application form and return to Shirley Devitt at sdevitt@csh.ie
Alternatively if you have any questions relating to a referral please contact Shirley at 01 2893151.

Some ways in which a Hospice will help:

• Enhance our respite and End-of-life services to children with life-limiting conditions.
• Provide family accommodation
• Practical and emotional support to those caring for a sick child.
• Respite care, not only for the sick child, but for the family and siblings.
• Giving families choices: To stay and share the care of their child. Be there as a family, or leave the child in respite care and take a break away, knowing their child will have the same loving care as they themselves give. Spend more time with the other children in the family, who are often left our and choice when the end sadly comes.
• Strive to be as flexible as possible to meet each families needs.