Country's first children's hospice opens

The country's first children's hospice has been officially opened today by President Mary McAleese.

LauraLynn House in south Dublin has been set up by the LauraLynn Hospice Foundation and the Children's Sunshine Home.

It will provide care for children with life-limiting conditions - and their families - which includes respite care, home support and end of life care.

The LauraLynn Hospice Foundation was set up in 2001 by Jane McKenna and husband Brendan after they lost both of their daughters Laura and Lynn in the space of just two years.

In 2007, the Children’s Sunshine Home and the LauraLynn Hospice Foundation joined forces.

Speaking at today’s event, Jane said “It is wonderful to see this dream come to fruition, and our huge thanks to so many amazing people, giving of their time and generosity, throughout the years.

"Laura and Lynn will be very happy that something so joyful has come, as a result of their short lives and our sad loss.”

The house has eight bedrooms, each with an en-suite facility and comfortable living accommodation. Four family suites will enable families to come and stay and be near their child.

The house also includes a quiet room, meeting room and multisensory playroom, bathroom and garden.

"The loss of a child is utterly life-altering but there are ways in which some of the dread, some of the fear, some of the awful loneliness can be assuaged," President McAleese said.

"That is what LauraLynn House exists for. It is our first hospice devoted to the very specific needs of very sick and dying children. Here, dying children who cannot remain at home can spend their final days surrounded by familiar possessions and faces, in a home from home environment, away from the impersonal and often intimidating world of a hospital ward."

A needs assessment completed by the Children’s Sunshine Home and the Irish Hospice Foundation in 2010 found that there were 749 children with life limiting conditions in Dublin-Mid Leinster and Dublin North-East.

It is estimated that 411 of these children have an active palliative care requirement in 2011 and that this number is set to increase to 479 children by the year 2021.

There are approximately 350 child deaths and more than 1,400 children living with life limiting or threatening conditions in Ireland each year.

There are currently 45 children’s hospices in the UK.