The Northern Ireland Children's Hospice cares for life-limited children and their families accross Northern Ireland.

How does the Children's Hospice help?

The children's hospice provides a respite service, support service and end of life care for these special children both in the children's hospice at Horizon House and at home. Life-limited conditions include progressive illnesses such as muscular dystrophy and/or rare genetic disorders or life-threatening conditions such as cancer and heart disease. Such conditions require substantial, complex and in many cases full-time care. Many of the life-limited children will die before reaching adulthood. By providing this special care, we give the family and the full-time carer a well deserved break.

Children from birth to 18 years of age are eligible for care, and like all hospice services, there is no charge for families.

Support for families

Caring for a life-limited child puts an enormous strain on family life and or some families, holidays, family activities and outings prove difficult or impossible. Meal times become staggered, sleep is often interrupted and parents rarely have time to themselves. A number of families who use our services have two or more life-limited children and healthy brothers and sisters inevitably feel left out as parents often provide 24-hour care for the sick sibling. At times, families can feel overwhelmed by their situation, both physically and emotionally.

The children's hospice helps by providing friendship, care and support to thw whole family, throughout the child's illness and after the child has died.

Horizon House

The children's hospice is situated in Newtownabbey, overlooking Belfast Lough. In addition to purpose built children's accommodation, there are family rooms, art and music rooms, play areas, a multi-sensory room and a hydrotherapy pool.

Offering a home from home environment, Horizon House is a place where children an their families feel safe, welcome and supported.

The Care Team

The care team at Horizon House although nurse led, is multi-professional and multi-disciplinary. Services are provided by care assistants, pediatric nurses and doctors, physiotherapists, social workers, chaplains and special therapists also contribute to the overall care of the child and their family. One to one care allows close relationships with the child and builds parents' confidence and trust in the service.

The Community Team

The community team operates throughout Northern Ireland providing respite and end of life care in the child's own home. Additional nursing support is provided by our Hospice at Home service. The team also provide a 24-hour, 7 day a week on call service for families.

How can you help?

Northern Ireland Children's Hospice is a registered charity, which relies upon donations and legacies as well as much needed government grants to maintain our services. You can help us by clicking on the Making a Donation page, or contact the Fundraising Department on (028) 90 781836 for information on our latest events and how you can help.