Going online: system to aid children with cancer
The Solas system, developed by experts in Trinity College, was launched yesterday. It will allow children in Crumlin Hospital in Dublin to share their experiences with one another in a secure internet environment.
It will also allow these children to communicate with their home and school while they are in hospital. They can even design their own web space and use the system to create drawings and compose music.
Doctors at Crumlin say keeping contact with the outside world, especially for children who have to spend weeks in isolation, will help in their treatment and recovery.
Research has shown children suffering from chronic illness, who spend a lot of time in hospital, can experience feelings of isolation and depression and develop poor social skills.
“Modern technology such as the Solas project can address some of the psychological issues affecting children who are long term patients in hospital by creating a virtual environment which will provide for communication, social support, educational benefits as well as relaxation and entertainment,” said Trinity Professor, Jane Grimson.
The Solas system has been especially designed to deal with some of the psychological and social needs experienced by these children.
Consultant at the hospital, Professor Owen Smith, said: “These children can spend 4-6 weeks in isolation with limited access to friends and family, undergoing intensive treatment protocols. This technology offers them an opportunity to maintain some sense of contact with the outside world that will help with their treatment and recovery.”
The system has already been available to 30 patients and will now be provided for all patients at the hospital suffering from childhood cancers and blood disorders.
Management say they hope it will be rolled out to all children at the hospital in the coming months.
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