Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Feb 1992

Vol. 416 No. 2

Written Answers. - Child Death Parent Support.

Dick Spring

Question:

146 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the plans he has, if any, for the establishment within the health system of support services for couples who lose children at birth or during the first months of life; and if he will provide a timetable for the implementation of these reforms.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

The Irish Sudden Infant Death Association (ISIDA) publishes, with the assistance of the Health Promotion Unit of my Department, a handbook of information on cot death and bereavement. This booklet called "A precious past — A hopeful future" was compiled with the help of experts in the field of coping with bereavement following a child's death.

The ISIDA also offers a support service which is strictly confidential and is provided by parents who have themselves experienced the feelings of grief, loss and isolation following the death of their child. This service is available on an individual or couple to couple basis in addition to a 24 hour a day telephone help line.

In 1991 a grant of £24,500 was made from the national lottery funds to the ISIDA, and further grants of £23,000 are committed in both 1992 and 1993 towards the cost of establishing a national register of cot deaths. This register will form a valuable data base for research into the problem. Counselling and support for bereaved parents is provided in maternity units through the medical, nursing and social work service and this is supplemented by the local public health nurse service.