Butterfly Lodge '˜provides high standard of holistic care'

Anita Hill, Community Childrens Nurse; Patricia McDevitt, Acting Lead Nurse, Community Paediatrics; Carmel OKane, Acting Head of Acute & Community Paediatrics and Neonatal Services and Mary McKenna; Acting Assistant Director, Women & Childrens Healthcare Staff pictured at the Butterfly Lodge, Altnagelvin Hospital. INLS 04-703-CON

Ms O’Neill visited the new ‘Butterfly Lodge’ in the grounds of Altnagelvin Hospital – a unit for supporting children with complex health care needs.

Formerly known as the Transitional Care Unit (TCU), the lodge is a base for a team of staff nurses and children’s health care assistants who assist in the provision of care packages and short breaks for children with complex healthcare needs within the Community Children’s Nursing Team.

Kieran Downey, director of Women and Children’s Services at the Western Trust, said: “I would like to thank the minister on behalf of all the team for visiting the Butterfly Lodge. The lodge provides a high standard of holistic care and support for children and young people with complex needs and additional support for their families. “This new facility means we can continue to deliver independence for children and families by bridging the gap between hospital and community care services.”

The purpose-built unit has the capacity to accommodate three children at one time. There is also a secure outside play area.