New Children’s Outpatients Centre open at University Hospital Waterford

The HSE hosted an Open Day this week at its new Children’s Outpatients Centre serving University Hospital Waterford (UHW).

Previously, paediatric outpatient appointments were facilitated within the hospital building. The new stand-alone facility situated on the grounds of the hospital now enables UHW’s paediatrics team to double its capacity in outpatient appointments and reduce waiting times in their regard.

Separate to the renovation works to accommodate children’s outpatient appointments at its new location, the decoration and play equipment was generously supported by the Juniors for Juniors Foundation.

Speaking at the Open Day, Consultant Paediatrician Dr. Aoife Carroll at UHW said:

“Access to the new space makes a big difference to everyone.”

“It has always been an aim to have treatment sessions for children located away from where general outpatient services are accommodated in UHW.

“At our new, dedicated and child-friendly location, from Wednesday to Friday we are now seeing in the region of 30 to 40 children a day in our eight clinical rooms – whereas 15 to 20 would have been the norm previously. When our Ophthalmology colleagues join us in here on Mondays and Tuesdays, we are getting up to 60 or 70 attendances.

“The paediatrics team have worked closely with hospital management to bring this development about and we are all looking forward to the significant effect all of this will have on reduction of waiting times for appointments.

“We are also very grateful to the Juniors for Juniors Foundation, whose continued efforts towards supporting young patients and their families at UHW is very much appreciated.”   

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Co-Founder and Director of Emer Kelly Juniors for Juniors Foundation, also speaking at the Open Day in the new Children’s Outpatients Centre added:   

"We know it is hard to be in hospital, especially as a child. Juniors for Juniors has worked with the paediatrics team to ensure that little visitors to the new centre get a colouring book, a toy, a ‘brave cert’ and stickers.

“The whole experience occurs in the presence of child-friendly wall art and a waiting room donned with colour and filled with toys donated by Juniors for Juniors.”

“Feedback from parents is that a fun environment is vital for kids and the set-up in the new centre provides pleasant distraction! Because it is so bright, colourful and fun, they tell us it allows the children to just be children!

And I also hear back that a lot of the children don't necessarily associate it with ‘hospital’ and they really have great fun here. So, taken with the positive effect on delivery of services, we are all very pleased with what has been achieved!"