A happier hospital stay for children


Each year in Ireland there are, on average, over 270,000 hospital visits by children.
For over 100,000 this means an average three night stay.
Every year, 75,000 child inpatients are under four years of age and almost all are admitted through A&E — an unexpected and unplanned visit.
Children in Hospital Ireland (CHI) is a national non-profit organisation committed to making hospital a happier place for sick children through play and advocacy.
The organisation promotes and ensures the welfare of sick children generally, and in particular, before, during and after hospitalisation, by drawing attention to their emotional and developmental needs.
CHI uses its expertise to deliver unique daily and weekly play sessions that support child patients, parents and staff in 13 hospital wards and playrooms nationwide.
Currently there are 480 volunteers providing 43,000 volunteer hours of play annually.