Number of child hospital admissions on the rise

The number of children being admitted to hospitals in Ireland is on the increase, according to new figures out today.

The figures show that the number of 14-year-olds being hospitalised rose by 14% between 2000 and 2006.

In 2000, around 10% of children had been hospitalised at least once in their lives, but that figure has now risen to around 15%.

The Children in Hospital Ireland group is calling on the HSE to increase the amount of funding available for sick children to reflect the needs of a growing child patient population.