‘Postcode lottery’ for children in need of respite care

Terminally ill children in need of respite care are sometimes subject to apostcode lottery when it comes to accessing the service, a report reveals.

Frances Fitzgerald, the children’s minister, has called for the HSE to set up regional groups to identify which parts of the countryare poorly resourced.

“Under our 2010 national policy on palliative care for children with life-limiting conditions, respite care is recognised as an essential element of a comprehensive palliative care service,” Ms Fitzgerald said.