Sir, – There are 4,000 children and young people living with life-limiting conditions in Ireland, and Children’s Hospice Week (May 23rd to 30th) is an opportunity for a sustained focus on the special needs of these people and their families.
With extremely complex and unpredictable health needs, these children require constant care and attention. Furthermore, the physical, emotional and financial pressure on their families is immense.
Families, in this situation, wherever they are living, deserve to be able to access hospice services, with the specialist skills and knowledge to support them.
Unfortunately, this is not the case and many families end up relying on emergency and acute support because children’s hospice care is not available in their area.
LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice, is the only dedicated children’s hospice in the State, providing planned short breaks (respite), unplanned crisis and end-of-life care, symptom management, family support and bereavement care. Last year it launched a hospice-at-home programme that has enabled us to expand our services to many more families.
It would be a fitting way for the new Government to mark Children’s Hospice Week by ensuring sufficient funding to provide fair and equal access to hospice services for all children with life-limiting conditions, and their families. – Yours, etc,
DAVID ANDREWS,
Chairman,
LauraLynn Children’s
Hospice,
Leopardstown Road,
Foxrock,
Dublin 18.