Family calls for paediatric palliative care service to be restored for all that need it

A family that had to battle the HSE to secure palliative home care for their son has called for the service to be given to every family that needs it.

Pressure is mounting on the HSE to restore palliative care for children in their own homes.
A paediatric palliative home care package for children has been denied to families and their loved ones since the service was withdrawn five years ago in the South East.

Having secured the home care service, the Norris family want to see the permanent restoration of the service.
The heartbreaking plight of the Norris family, who live in Glasha between Ballymacarbry and Clonmel, has demonstrated how badly needed the service is.

Danny, the seven-year-old son of Lar and Lisa Norris, has stage 4 cancer.
The HSE refused point blank in early November to put a palliative home care service for Danny in place and his parents were informed that he would remain under the care of the palliative care team in Crumlin.

It was the wish of Danny and his parents that Danny be moved from Crumlin to be cared for in his own home in Glasha surrounded by his family.
That wish was eloquently expressed by Deputy Michael Lowry who raised the plight of the Norris family in Dáil Éireann last Thursday .
“To date, we have done everything in our power to ensure that our son’s care is home based.
“To be clear, we want and expect our son to be afforded the opportunity to come home, to have the same access to community-based palliative care services that he would have if he was an adult in their area, or, indeed, was a child in most other community areas in the country,” stated Lar and Lisa in their letter which was read out to the Dáil.
“It is unacceptable that our son may have fewer choices with regard to end-of-life care due to geographical, political, financial or resource issues,” they said.

There was an enormous public reaction to the letter written by the family.
Following the airing of the heart-wrenching plea for help that came from the Norris family and the incredible reaction from the public, things started to change.

Following discussions last Friday the home care palliative package was put in place by that evening.
Now the Norris family want to see that service restored and made available to every family that needs it without them having to go through a battle.
“We do not want any other family to have to go through this battle with the HSE. We would like to see the permanent restoration of the paediatric palliative home care service,” said Lisa Norris.

Lisa said they were very grateful that Danny was now at home surrounded by his family and all those that know and love him.
“We would also like to thank the management and staff of the paediatric ward at Tipperary University Hospital and commend their outstanding level of commitment and support they have shown to Danny and our family. They have gone over and above to ensure that Danny’s wish was granted,” said Lisa.

BREAKING: Seven-year-old Tipperary boy coming home for palliative care

TD Michael Lowry read a letter by the boy's parents onto the Dáil record this week

The matter was raised again in Dáil Éireann on Tuesday by Deputy Lowry.
He backed up the Norris family plea for the service to be restored permanently.
“There are other families who urgently require this service. It has to be restored on a permanent basis,” said Deputy Lowry.