05/10/2001

NI children’s hospice set to open

The new children's hospice in Northern Ireland looks finally set to open its doors next week following months of controversy within the organisation.

Situated in Newtownabbey, County Antrim, the unit, has been built on an elevated four acres site at O’Neill Road, has extensive views over the Belfast Lough.

The new name for the Children's Hospice unit is Horizon House. The name was chosen from over 3,500 entries in a province wide competition amongst schools to name the Children’s Hospice. The name was put forward by eight-year-old Nicole Crockford from Holywood Primary School.

The facilities, which were built with the help of £5 million from members of the public, are going through a trial period this weekend and next week and will officially open within the next ten days.

The unit will have 10 children’s rooms and six family rooms so that the family can accompany the child. There will also be a social area, multi-sensory room and a hydrotherapy pool as well as a play area.

The hospice has been the subject of much controversy this year over the suspension and subsequent dismissal of its administrative director Tom Hill.

Mr Hill, a leading fundraiser in the charity's campaign to build the children's hospice, was suspended in October 2000. In May 2001, Mr Hill was sacked. The managers said he had lost his job because of a "total collapse of trust and confidence".

The management council subsequently stepped down.

There are at least 800 children living in Northern Ireland who have life-limiting conditions, which mean they will die before they reach adulthood.

These include Muscular Dystrophy and Battens Disease or life-threatening conditions such as cancer or heart disease. (AMcE)

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