Robert Dowds
Question:638. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of all the hospitals which have a Friends of the Hospital organisation. [2876/13]
View answerTuesday, 22 January 2013
Questions (638, 639, 640)
Robert Dowds
Question:639. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the activities which are undertaken by Friends of the Hospital organisations. [2877/13]
View answerRobert Dowds
Question:640. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if there is scope for Friends of the Hospital organisations to involve themselves in activities other than fundraising, such as visiting patients or providing activities for children, at present [2878/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 638 to 640, inclusive, together.
In relation to the particular queries raised by the Deputy regarding hospitals in Ireland which have a "Friends of the Hospital" organisation and their activities, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in these matters. In relation to scope for these organisation to involve themselves in other patient services such as visiting patients or providing activities for children the Deputy may wish to contact the National Advocacy Unit in the HSE to explore this further. A key priority for the Advocacy Unit is to develop and support implementation of best practice models of customer care within the health service. The Deputy may be aware of the voluntary organisation, Children in Hospital Ireland (CHI) which receives funding support from the HSE. CHI has for many years has been directly working with children in hospital delivering a play, help and advocacy service to bring them fun and support. CHI uses its expertise to deliver unique daily and weekly play sessions that support child patients, parents and staff in 20 hospital wards and playrooms nationwide. The Deputy may also wish to contact CHI to explore the potential for Friends of the Hospital organisations to input to their work -CHI - .1890 25 26 82 , Email: info@childreninhospital.ie.