Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Primary Care, Social Care (Disabilities & Older People) and Mental Health, Kathleen Lynch TD, met with parents of children with a disability who use the respite service at the Maria Goretti Children’s Respite service in Lordship on Thursday 21st May 2015. The Minister was invited to tour the centre by the Maria Goretti Foundation, who built the facilities. Afterwards she took the time to speak with the parents and trustees of the respite facility.
Following an open tendering process, the service is delivered by RehabCare on behalf of the HSE and currently supports 68 children with autism, intellectual disabilities or physical and sensory disabilities and their families, for four children at a time. Currently it is providing respite for four children at a time over four nights a week, (increasing to five nights a week in July ‘15); the centre has six bedrooms, with a capacity for six children to receive respite each night. The parents requested that extra funding be allocated to the centre by the HSE and the Department of Health to ensure that the centre runs at full capacity.
Sonia Callaghan, spoke passionately about the importance of the respite service to her son Tomas and her family. “My son Tomas has severe autism, an intellectual disability and epilepsy. Our lives revolve around him because of his behavioural issues. Until he came here this year he had never spent a night away from me. I could never have asked someone to have him overnight – his behaviour is too challenging. I was very anxious when we came here first, as any mother would be. But Tomas is 12 and he needs some independence. From the first moment, the staff took away my concerns. They focused on Tomas and he didn’t have to fit into the service, they fit the service around him. It’s about the child. It’s person-centred and it’s a high quality service. It has saved me and my family. I can get a night’s sleep; I can spend quality time with my other son. I can breathe safely, knowing that Tomas is not only in safe hands, he is having a great time. ”
Minister Kathleen Lynch TD listened as a number of parents told their personal stories of how the service has improved the lives of their children and their families, and their wish to extend the service to other children and families. She said, “I hear your concerns very clearly – I hear what you are saying. I’m enamoured that you are so gushing about the service. It’s so genuine. It’s a great compliment to Deirdre Quinn (RehabCare) and her staff. I do understand what is means to be constantly aware where you child is and what they are doing. You are always on the threshold of being on edge. I understand that you need more than a night’s sleep. The impact of what you have said to me will stay with me. I’m notorious for not making promises but I will do my very best for this centre.”
Speaking about the legacy left by John Hanlon, who was the brainchild behind the centre, Minister Lynch said, “Anyone who inspires a group of people to create such a haven, must have been someone spectacular.”
For more information please contact Róisín Fitzgerald, Rehab Tel: 01 205 7268 / 086 810 1291.
