About the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice

Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice is part of Northern Ireland Hospice Care. It was established in 1998 to provide respite and end of life care to life limited children and their families. As the only children’s hospice service in Northern Ireland we provide care across the province. Care is provided in the children’s hospice at Horizon House in Belfast and in the community, in the child’s own home.

There are over 860 children with life-limiting illnesses living in Northern Ireland. These children do not have a life expectancy of longer than 18 years and they have very special care needs. They may suffer from life-limiting progressive illnesses such as Muscular Dystrophy or rare genetic disorders such as Batten’s Disease, or life-threatening illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. Such conditions require substantial and in many cases 24 hour round-the-clock care. This puts an enormous strain on family life, especially if more than one sibling is ill. At times, families can feel overwhelmed by the situation, both emotionally and physically.

The Children’s Hospice supports some of the most vulnerable families in our community. Last year Northern Ireland Childrens Hospice helped 250 of these families by providing respite and end-of-life care as well as friendship and practical support both throughout the child’s illness and into bereavement.

Their care is provided free to everyone on the basis of need.

It costs £1.8 million every year to keep the Hospice running so the support of the public is so important to them.

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