Children in Hospital Ireland calls for a new payment to support parents with the costs of caring for a child in hospital

Children in Hospital Ireland today published its Pre-Budget Submission, calling on the Government to introduce a new social protection payment to assist parents who are struggling with the significant non-medical financial costs associated with caring for a child in hospital.

The organisation also urged the Government to prioritise investment in high-quality healthcare and mental health services for all children.

Parents with children in hospital face a range of non-medical costs, as revealed by Children in Hospital Ireland’s 2020 study Childhood Illness, Financial Stress.

Significant costs faced by parents include travel and parking, food, accommodation, childcare for other children, and mental health supports. According to Children in Hospital Ireland, parents may spend in excess of €100 extra per day during their child’s hospitalisation.

Anna Gunning, CEO Children in Hospital Ireland, said “Parents are a vital part of the care team when their child is sick.

“This means that they spend lengthy periods of time in hospital with their child, which can have significant financial consequences.

“Parents are faced with additional expenses, while also finding it very difficult to engage in paid employment”

The median loss in income experienced by parents surveyed by Children in Hospital Ireland was €300 per week.

One-third of parents surveyed had given up work to care for their sick child. A majority reported a negative financial impact and concerns about their finances due to their child being in hospital.

Anna Gunning added,

“We are particularly concerned about the impact on parents whose child requires long-term hospitalisation and/or repeated visits, as they are likely to be the most impacted.

“Even before recent developments families with children in hospital were struggling with a cost-of-living crisis. The financial challenges of the past few months have been acutely felt by these families and are becoming increasingly unsustainable”

Children in Hospital Ireland believe that a new social protection payment is necessary. The current supports available are limited and fail to account for the unique and complex challenges arising from a child’s hospitalisation.

Anna Gunning added, “Children in Hospital Ireland is proposing a payment to assist parents with children who have prolonged stays in hospital or who require frequent hospital attendances.

“This payment would go some way to address the financial hardship faced by parents and would acknowledge the critical role they play in caring for their sick child”.

“The cost of this payment to the Exchequer would be minimal, but it would be transformative for parents. Only a small minority of the total number of children who receive hospital care each year have prolonged stays or require repeat attendances”