New children's outpatient centre officially opens at University Hospital Waterford

It was a day of celebration at University Hospital Waterford, as the official opening of new children’s outpatient centre took place.

Previously, the outpatient department was in a shared space with adult patients with inadequate space for accurate assessment of children.

At the new unit, clinics now run five days a week with a much improved capacity, all in a child friendly environment.

The space sees an average of 30 to 40 children a day, rising to 60 during days where eye clinics run, doubling since moving from the previously used space. Waiting times have also decreased. 

The space is shared with ophthalmology staff and utilized for ANP (Special interest allergy, asthma, eczema and constipation).

Works to accommodate children’s outpatient appointments at its new location was supported by Juniors for Juniors, a Waterford City based non-profit foundation, who provided toys and colourful murals to the space.

Speaking to the Waterford News & Star, Joe Daly, Co-Founder and Director of Juniors for Juniors said: “We’ve done research around this, and we found that kids don’t remember the pain when they go to hospital, they actually remember the discomfort, the feeling of being away from their parents and the clinical environment."

“So we’re here today at the outpatients department and the nice thing about it is that its removed from the hospital, so it has a little bit less of a hospital feel to it," he said.

"We also kitted it out with murals, little houses for the kids to play with it and toys. It’s great to be able to do this and it really does make a difference in removing the intimation of a hospital."

Joe added: “The concept of Juniors for Juniors is two pillars, firstly getting funding for the children’s ward to provide simple things like murals on the wall, toys, and secondly to encourage young kids to raise funds for other children and getting the kids to think about other people in difficult situations without any return."

The foundation is currently in the process of building a sensory room at the hospital, a vital project which is nearing completion.

Aoife Carroll, Consultant Pediatrician at UHW added: “It’s been a long time coming and we’ve always wanted a space where the kids are separated from adults.

“We have to say a big thank you to Juniors for Juniors, the lovely designs on the walls making it very, very friendly for the kids."