Tips and advice to help you prepare for outpatient and inpatient treatment for your child in the children’s Hospitals in Connacht.
Hospitals in other regions:
Frequently Asked Questions
University Hospital Galway
Website
University Hospital Galway
University Hospital Galway – Paediatric Unit This page provides information about the paediatric wards and phone numbers for the different wards.
Main phone number: 091 544 544 Call this number and they can direct your call to the ward or clinic you need.
St Bernadette’s Paediatric Ward: 091 544 668
Parking
Hospital car parks can be busy or full. If you plan on using the hospital car park try to arrive early as you may need to wait for parking. There are 5 public car parks at UHG.
Parking office: 091 542 858
Payment for parking
Pay as you leave
You get a ticket when you arrive and pay as you leave at the parking machines or the Parkrite parking office.
Parking is cash only at the payment machines at the hospital.
Parking office is is located in the prefab to the right of the Emergency Department entrance.
Day park parking available until 11.30pm nightly. €2 per hour up to €9 per day.
24 hour and weekly passes can be purchased from the parking office or online.
Book online
You can book your parking on-line. This option only provides options for full day or weekly parking. It is suitable for visitors who require flexible tickets to allow multiple entries or exits for a day or week.
You may still have to queue for a space at busy times even if you book in advance.
Click here for more details and to book online.
Long-term rate
€30 for 7 day pass available from parking office or online. Ask your nurse if any extra concessions are available for long term stays or if your child will be at the hospital frequently.
Disabled/blue badge parking
Free disabled car park spaces are available with a disabled parking badge displayed.
If no disabled spaces are available, bring your ticket to the parking office before you leave and they will validate it for free disabled parking.
Finding the ward/clinic
St. Bernadette’s Children’s Unit is located at the ground floor level in the hospital grounds behind the main hospital building. There is an external entrance directly accessible through the rear car parks number 5 (usually very busy).
You can find the paediatric unit on the hospital map – located near top of the page near the large circle.
The Paediatric Ambulatory Care unit is situated at the end of the Paediatric Unit beside the OPD. They see children who have been referred for a variety of day case procedures, phlebotomy, diagnostic imaging, procedures, transfusions, reviews and allergy.
Contact: OPD Paediatric Appointments 091 544668
St Bernadette’s Paediatric Unit – Ground Floor – 091 544 274
Website: St Bernadette’s Unit This page provides information about the wards and phone numbers for the different sections of the wards.
On the ward
In the children’s unit, parents are welcome to stay with their children on the ward. A limited number of beds are available. There is also a small rest room on the ward with tea and coffee making facilities.
On the ward
There is a small rest room on the ward with tea and coffee making facilities.
Hospital Cafe
The hospital Cafe is available 7 days per week Monday to Friday 7am-5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm.
Local cafes/stores
There are a number of cafes/restaurants and shops opposite the hospital.
Outdoor Playground
Located within the Paediatric Unit in UHG.
Indoor Playroom
Located within the Paediatric Unit in UHG.
Play specialist
Play specialists are part of multi-disciplinary team specialising in normal and therapeutic play for infants, children and young people both inpatients and outpatients of the hospital. A referral may be required – ask your child’s care team for information.
Volunteer Play Services
Volunteer play services are provided by Children In Hospital Ireland volunteers in the hospital. Watch out for the red t-shirts.
Patient Advocate and Liaison Officer (PALS)
The PALS officer is available to provide information and listen to any questions, comments or concerns you may have during your care at the University Hospital Galway.
Call the main reception and ask to be transferred to the PALS program.
091 544 544
If your child has a mobility, communication, vision, hearing or literacy difficulty let the clinic or ward staff know in advance or when you arrive.
Hospital Shop
There is a small hospital shop available
Tesco Express
Across from the hospital.
Informal and formal complaints
Informal complaints can be made directly to a member of hospital staff or a ward/department manager.
Formal complaints about inpatient or outpatient services at University Hospital Galway can be made to the hospital complaints officer or to HSE Complaint and Feedback Service – Your Service Your Say
Hospital complaints Officer: University Hospital Galway
For more information or support
- Visit our hospital feedback and complaints section for more information about hospital feedback and complaints.
- UHG Patient Advocacy Liaison Service: PALS staff can provide information about providing feedback or complaints and support with making a complaint. Contact: 091 524 222
- The Patient Advocacy Service is an independent, free and confidential service that supports you to make a complaint about an experience you have had in a Public Hospital. This is a separate service to the hospital PALS service. This is separate to the hospital PALS service.
- HSE Your Service Your Say
Need help?
Our play volunteers are ready to help!
Watch out for the volunteers in red t-shirts
Last updated September 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Portiuncula Hospital Galway
Website:
Portiuncula University Hospital – Saolta Website
Portiuncula University Hospital – HSE Website
General phone number: 090 964 8200 Call this number and they can direct your call to the area you need.
Parking
Hospital car parks can be busy or full. If you plan on using the hospital car park try to arrive early as you may need to wait for parking.
Parking is provided by a private company Apcoa Parking. Clamping is in operation. You can pay and display on arrival at the carpark or book online when you arrive:
€2 per 2 hours up to maximum €8 per 24 hours.
Pay and display:
Accepts card and cash.
€2.40 per 2 hours up to maximum €8 per 24 hours.
Online booking
You need to register an account first. You cannot book a space in advance – the parking timer starts once you press pay so it is best to pay once you have found a space in the carpark.
https://www.apcoaconnect.ie/
Disabled/blue badge holders
Free disabled car park spaces are available for disabled permit holders.
Long-term parking
There is no long term parking available at pay and display or online booking. Ask you nurse about parking concessions if your child will be in hospital for longer than a week or coming to the hospital frequently.
Finding the ward/clinic
When you arrive the staff at reception can help direct you to the ward/clinic you need. Reception is located at the main entrance on the ground floor.
This hospital map may be useful to help you plan your visit – St Therese Unit on first floor/page 4.
St Therese Paediatric Ward
Located on the first floor
Parents can stay overnight on the ward with their child on a mattress that is provided or a chair. Linen is provided.
Parents can use the shower in the patient bathroom.
On the ward
A small kitchenette is available for parents to use with tea, coffee, milk etc provided.
Hospital cafeteria
Located on ground floor near hospital main entrance.
Open every day.
Hospital shop
Located on ground floor near hospital main entrance.
Open every day.
Vending machines
Located in emergency department with snacks, sandwiches and hot and cold drinks.
Medical Social Worker (MSW)
The MSW can provide social and emotional support as well as assistance with accessing community supports. Ask your consultant or care team about a referral.
Hospital chapel and pastoral care team
The chapel is located on the ground floor and is open to anyone who wishes to use it. Mass times are posted on the notice board outside the chapel. The pastoral care team can provide religious, spiritual and or emotional support.
If your child has a mobility, communication, vision, hearing or literacy difficulty let the clinic or ward staff know in advance or when you arrive.
Hospital Shop
Located on ground floor near the hospital front entrance.
Informal complaints can be made directly to a member of hospital staff or a ward/department manager or consultant.
Formal complaints about inpatient or outpatient services at Portiuncula University Hospital can be made to the Hospital Patient Services Manager, hospital complaints officer or to HSE Complaint and Feedback Service – Your Service Your Say
- Hospital complaints manager: Contact through reception or by mail.
- Hospital complaints Officer: Portiuncula University Hospital
For more information or support
- Visit our hospital feedback and complaints section for more information about hospital feedback and complaints.
- The Patient Advocacy Service is an independent, free and confidential service that supports you to make a complaint about an experience you have had in a Public Hospital.
- HSE Your Service Your Say
Did you know?
Our database has hundreds of resources and supports that can be easily searched
Click below to search for supports
Last updated September 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Mayo University Hospital…
Website
Mayo University Hospital
Main phone number: 094 902 1733 Call this number and they can direct your call to the area of the hospital you need.
Parking
Hospital car parks are usually very busy or full. Arrive early as you often have to wait for a space.
There is a fixed charge of €2 for the first 3 hours, every additional hour is charged at €1 per hour.
The maximum daily charge is €5. Weekly tickets may be purchased in the hospital foyer. These cost €15.
The ticket machines only accept cash or coins, with change given. Cards are not currently accepted at the ticket machines.
On street parking is available close to the hospital – Cost €1 per hour – coins only.
The Paediatric Department is located on the 3rd Floor
Phone number: 094 904 2420
On the ward
One parent can stay overnight on the ward with their child on a recliner or pull out bed provided.
Parent kitchen
A kitchenette is available on the inpatient ward for parents to use with a microwave and kettle and tea and coffee provided.
Hospital restaurant
A hospital restaurant is available on the lower level of the hospital
Play Specialist
Play specialists are part of multi-disciplinary team specialising in normal and therapeutic play for infants, children and young people both inpatients and outpatients of the hospital. A referral may be required – ask your child’s care team for information.
Play room
A large playroom is available for children to use on the inpatient ward.
Volunteer play services
Volunteer play services are provided by Children In Hospital Ireland volunteers in the hospital. Watch out for the red t-shirts.
Patient advice and liaison service (PALS)
PALS provides a confidential and impartial liaison service offering support and advice, responding to concerns and passing on feedback within the hospital.
Contact: 094 904 2172 or via MUHPatientFeedback@hse.ie.
If your child has a mobility, communication, vision, hearing or literacy difficulty let the clinic or ward staff know in advance or when you arrive.
Hospital shop
Located by main reception
Informal complaints can be made directly to a member of hospital staff or a ward/department manager or consultant.
Formal complaints about inpatient or outpatient services at Mayo University Hospital can be made to the hospital complaints officer or to HSE Complaint and Feedback Service – Your Service Your Say
Hospital complaints Officer: Mayo University Hospital
For more information or support
- Visit our hospital feedback and complaints section for more information about hospital feedback and complaints.
- The Patient Advocacy Service is an independent, free and confidential service that supports you to make a complaint about an experience you have had in a Public Hospital. This is a separate service to the hospital PALS service. This is separate to the hospital PALS service.
- HSE Your Service Your Say
Need help?
Our play volunteers are ready to help!
Watch out for the volunteers in red t-shirts
Last updated September 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Sligo University Hospital…
Website: Sligo University Hospital
Main phone number: 071 917 1111 – Call this number and they can direct you to the area of the hospital you need.
Parking
Hospital car parks are usually very busy or full. Arrive early as you often have to wait for a space.
Coins, cash and card accepted for payment.
There is paid patient parking availble at the rear of the hospital, a free shuttle bus runs from the car park to the main hospital entrance every 30 mins. The shuttle bus operates from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). The bus picks up at a bus shelter in the main carpark and drops off at the Main Entrance off The Mall.
Patients should allow 20 minutes prior to appointment to park and get the shuttle bus to the hospital entrance
The outpatient department is on level 3 (this is the ground floor). Turn left at the main entrance and then first left to the children’s section. There is a small play area for children.
The diabetes unit is in a separate building with adult and children’s services in it.
Finding the ward
The inpatient ward is on level 7 using the main lifts.
Little Journey App – Sligo University Hospital
The ‘Little Journey’ app provides 360 degree views of all the areas the children will visit at Sligo University Hospital as well as useful information about anaesthesiology tailored to the age of the child. You can click on the characters to hear more about what to expect.
Download on Google Play or App Store, select Ireland and then search for Sligo University Hospital.
On the ward
Special chairs – buddy beds – are provided that can be changed into comfortable beds for parents staying overnight with their child.
Parent kitchen
There is a parent kitchen available for use on the inpatient ward
Hospital restaurant
Hospital Restaurant – Open every day
Click here for opening hours
Vending machines
Located behind restaurant
Play specialist
Play specialists are part of multi-disciplinary team specialising in normal and therapeutic play for infants, children and young people both inpatients and outpatients of the hospital. A referral may be required – ask your child’s care team for information.
Play room
A play room is available on the inpatient ward.
Patient advocacy and liaison services (PALS)
Available Monday to Friday 8am-5pm
The PALS service provides information and supports such as listening to your concerns or feedback.
Contact 087 4532841 or pals.suh@hse.ie
If your child has a mobility, communication, vision, hearing or literacy difficulty let the clinic or ward staff know in advance or when you arrive.
Hospital shop
Volunteer ran shop – Located within the hospital.
Informal complaints can be made directly to a member of hospital staff or a ward/department manager or consultant.
Formal complaints about inpatient or outpatient services at Sligo University Hospital can be made to the hospital complaints officer or to HSE Complaint and Feedback Service – Your Service Your Say
Hospital complaints Officer: Sligo University Hospital – Scroll down to Sligo info
For more information or support
- Patient advice and liaison service (PALS) – The PALS service provides information and supports including responding to concerns and feedback.
- Visit our hospital feedback and complaints section for more information about hospital feedback and complaints.
- The Patient Advocacy Service is an independent, free and confidential service that supports you to make a complaint about an experience you have had in a Public Hospital. This is a separate service to the hospital PALS service.
- HSE Your Service Your Say
Did you know?
Our database has hundreds of resources and supports that can be easily searched
Click below to search for supports
Last updated September 2023
