Sending something to a child at CHI at Temple Street

Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street is a children's hospital on Temple Street in Dublin city centre, and a teaching hospital of University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin. It provides 24-hour emergency care, outpatient care and a range of specialties. The address is Temple Street, Dublin 1, D01 YC67. Before ordering anything for a child here, read the next paragraph: the hospital's visiting guidelines say that visitors must not bring plants or flowers into patient rooms.

What the hospital says

Children's Health Ireland publishes visiting guidelines for its hospitals. The list of things visitors should not do includes bringing plants or flowers into patient rooms, visiting isolation rooms without permission from the clinical nurse manager, bringing in hot drinks to clinical rooms and using cameras without permission. Visiting times vary by ward, and the guidelines add that visits outside those times are only possible in special circumstances, with the approval of the nurse manager in charge. For that reason we do not recommend sending a bouquet to the ward.

The rules for who may visit are also strict. When a child is admitted, two parent or guardian visitor cards are issued. For children who are not staying overnight, only one parent or guardian may attend with their child. Close family and friends may visit for short periods, agreed in advance with the clinical nurse manager. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, with a limit of two at a time.

A hospital with a long history

The hospital was founded in 1872 by Mrs Ellen Woodlock and her friend Sarah Atkinson at 9 Upper Buckingham Street, with only eight beds. In 1876 the Religious Sisters of Charity took over the running of the hospital, and in 1879 they bought the former home of the Earls of Bellomont at 15 Temple Street. It became Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street on 1 January 2019. Services are now being moved to the new children's hospital on the St James's Hospital campus, so check which site the child is attending before you plan anything.

Better ideas for a child and a family

Flowers are not the only way to cheer up a sick child. Books, cuddly toys, drawing materials and a card from classmates are common gifts, but check with the ward first, because some items cannot be taken into particular rooms. A bouquet delivered to the family home is often the best choice: parents spend long hours in the hospital and come home tired, and a bunch of flowers on the table can make the house feel looked after. If the family lives in Dublin, include the Eircode and choose a delivery date when someone will be there.

You could also send flowers to the parent who is staying overnight, if you know the home address, or to the grandparents who are minding the other children. A card with a few lines for the child, to be read aloud, can mean more to a young patient than any gift.

Practical details about getting there

The hospital has no on-site parking and limited on-street parking, so the hospital advises using public transport. Several local bus services stop nearby, and there are rail and Luas connections. The hospital notes a public car park on Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, with tickets validated in the hospital. If you are visiting as a close relative, ring the ward first, check who may visit and allow extra time.

Timing and tone

A child in hospital often has good days and bad days, and parents may not answer the phone while they are on the ward. Send your message in writing rather than expecting a call back, and do not ask for updates. If the family is waiting for a procedure or a result, a delivery arriving the following day, after the news, can be a quiet way to say that you are thinking of them.

Writing the message

If you send something to the family, keep the message simple and positive, and leave out medical details. Give the child's name only if the parents are comfortable with it, and use the family surname and Eircode for the home delivery. A sentence such as "thinking of you all" is always welcome.

Did you know? Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street began in 1872 with just eight beds, in a house at 9 Upper Buckingham Street.