Network of Childhood Illness Organisations

Children in Hospital Ireland (CHI) established a network of childhood illness groups in order to promote relevant collaborations, share information and expertise and create a combined voice for advocating for enhanced services for children and young people with experience of hospital, and their families

The objective of the network is to maximise combined knowledge and evidence from childhood illness organisations so that we, as a group, can be a stronger voice in the promotion of better services for affected children and their families.  We aim to implement strategies to, for example:​

  • Identify common issues and potential supports to children and young people in hospital​
  • Promote professional learning and collaboration amongst the entire network and bilaterally​between individual organisations and identify gaps in current knowledge and propose solutions to this.
  • Remove or respond to shared issues/challenges​ identified by the different groups using a shared approach
  • Provide a united and accessible voice for the network members and a central contact point for policy makers​

Vision

To establish a network of childhood illness groups who represent the interests of children and young people with experience of being in hospital in order to give these groups an opportunity to meet with each other and identify common interests and concerns.

Purpose

To combine knowledge and experiences across groups, ensuring that each organisation benefits from participation in order to maximise combined knowledge and evidence that can promote better services and identify strategies to, for example:

  • Support children and young people in hospital
  • Share expertise in full group and bilaterally
  • Remove or respond to shared issues / challenges
  • Provide a united voice for these groups and a central point for policy makers
  • Identify expertise / inputs which would add knowledge to the group

Some Shared Issues

  • Cost
  • Transition to Adult Services
  • Play
  • Nutrition
  • Education
  • Accommodation
  • Parent & Family Services
  • Transition Home

For further information visit Network of Childhood Illness Organisations – NCIO.ie