Supporting Children, Families and Hospitals

The Beginning

In response to concerns regarding parents’ rights to be involved in their children’s care while their child was in hospital and their right to stay with their sick child, The Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital (Ireland) was founded in 1970 by a small group of committed parents. In the early years, CIH advocated in particular for recognition of the right of parents to stay with their child in hospital, for visiting times to be extended, and for the facilitation of visits by siblings and other family members. It urged that children’s units be provided in all general hospitals where children were being treated and that these units be staffed by personnel with paediatric training.  CIH also promoted the right of children to have access to education while in hospital and the need to develop hospital, play specialist services.