This page provides information about resources and supports for patients. This includes advice for parents and carers on how to prepare your child for procedures, signposting to recreation, activities, and wish-granting charities as well as condition-specific patient supports.
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Preparing and supporting your child
Preparing your child for receiving hospital care and supporting your child through tests, procedures, and hospital stays
It’s important to prepare your child before going to hospital or having tests or procedures. Visit the information pages below to find
information and tools to assist in preparing and supporting your child
Useful resources and information
See below for a listing of useful resources to help you in preparing your child for hospital stays and procedures.
Hospital visits with your neurodivergent child: Practical strategies and resources – video
This webinar, recorded in March 2025, was led by Dr Lhara Mullins. Lhara is a lecturer in health promotion and passionate advocate for all things autism and neurodiversity related. Her extensive academic and professional credentials include a Masters in Social work, a PhD in Health promotion, as well as authoring two books on the topic of neurodiversity. Lhara's lived experience as a mother to three autistic children and as a neurodivergent person herself, fuels her motivation to explore the unique and evolving needs of children and families living with disabilities. In this video, she offers practical tips to prepare and support your neurodiverse child when they require hospital care.
Hospital Passport – symbols – Children
A free resource from www.widgit.com to help communicate your child's needs and preferences to healthcare professionals. Please note this resource is from a UK website.
Widgit/Symbol Flashcards and Booklets – Hospital admissions, appointments and procedures
www.Widgit.com provides a section with free symbol/widget based flashcards and booklets to help prepare children with additional needs for hospital appointments, procedures or staying in hospital. Please note this resource is from a UK website.
Helping your child during a procedure brochure
Helping your child during a procedure
This short document explains how you can support your child during a procedure and how to prepare at home before a procedure
Using play to prepare your child for hospital – Videos
Using play to prepare your child for hospital
These videos show play ideas to prepare younger children and young people with learning difficulties for different tests or procedures. Please note this resource is from a UK website.
Preparing a child with a learning disability for hospital – video
Preparing a child with a learning disability for hospital
This video shows interviews with parents of children with a learning disability. The parents share experiences and different ways they prepare their child for going to hospital, the doctor, the dentist or the optometrist. Please note this is resource is from a UK website.
HSE Health Passport App
HSE Health Passport - Apple Download | HSE Health Passport - Android/Samsung Download
The HSE Health Passport is now available as an App to support people with Intellectual Disability to communicate and express their unique needs when in a health care setting
Child friendly videos and information about hospital tests and procedures
whatwhychildreninhospital.org.uk/
This website provides lots of resources about going to hospitals, procedures and equipment. You can use the videos, information sheets and other resources to help you prepare your child and know what to expect before a procedure, appointment or hospital admission.
Activities and camps
See below for a listing of activity, wish-granting and wellbeing supports for your child. Click on each resource for details about
who is eligible and how to apply.
Children In Hospital Ireland
childreninhospital.ie/ | info@childreninhospital.ie| 01 290 3510
Children In Hospital Ireland provides play and recreation for children receiving inpatient and outpatient care in hospitals throughout Ireland.
Variety – The Children’s Charity of Ireland
varietyireland.org/ | info@varietyireland.org| 01 437 0323
Variety - The Children's Charity of Ireland provides specially adapted trikes and pre-loved or new educational devices to children with disabilities.
Helium Arts
helium.ie/ | hello@helium.ie| 044 939 6960
Helium Arts is the national children’s arts and health charity. They provide free creative art workshops in community venues throughout Ireland, as well as online and in hospitals for children and young people aged 6-15 years living with lifelong physical health conditions that require ongoing medical support. Examples of conditions include diabetes, epilepsy, cystic fibrosis, allergies, heart conditions, chronic asthma, spina bifida, juvenile arthritis, rare or complex conditions and many more.
Cian’s Kennels – Crumlin Hospital
cianskennels.ie/ | info@cianskennels.ie| 085 1488660
Cian’s Kennels bring pets closer to sick children and their families at CHI Crumlin by arranging visits from their dog during their hospital stay.
Make-A-Wish Ireland
www.makeawish.ie | info@makeawish.ie| 01 2052007
Make-A-Wish Ireland aims to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions, to bring hope, strength and happiness
Barretstown – A serious fun camp
barretstown.org | info@barretstown.org| 045 864 115
Barretstown offers free, specially designed camps and programmes for children living with serious illness, and their families. – supported behind the scenes by 24 hour on site medical and nursing care
Little Blue Heroes Foundation
littleblueheroes.org | info@littleblueheroes.org | 086 171 1433
Little Blue Heroes provide supports to children with life-limiting and life threatening illnesses and their family.
Condition or diagnosis specific supports and activities
Many support organisations provide supports and activities for children with a specific condition. Condition-specific supports available might include recreational activities, peer support programs, counselling or play-therapy and more.
Search our database of Irish support organisations to find condition-specific supports for your child.
