'People can end up reaching out to charities': Parents call for more help with costs for sick children

The Campbell family regularly makes the almost nine-hour round trip from Donegal to Dublin to attend Rory's hospital visits.

A parent of a child who has spent long periods in hospital has said the added costs to the family mean that sometimes she has to decide between having dinner or having breakfast while he is receiving care.

Claire Campbell said her son Rory spent 10 weeks in hospital just before Christmas and involved a nine-hour round trip to the children’s hospital in Crumlin from their home in Donegal.