Children’s heart 'first' for NI

The NI Chest, Heart and Stroke Association, together with the children’s heart charity, Heartbeat, has announced a 'first' for Northern Ireland with the appointment of a Children’s Heart Nurse at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.

The new post – the Paediatric Cardiac Liaison Nurse - is designed to ease the anxiety and fear of families living with congenital heart illness.

The appointment, which has been made possible thanks to the support of the BBC’s Children in Need appeal, Heartbeat and Northern Bank, will bridge the gap between GPs and heart specialists. The Children’s Heart Nurse – or Paediatric Cardiac Liaison Nurse, to give the full title – is specially trained in dealing with cardiac conditions in children and young people.

Claire Hopkins, the recently appointed Children’s Heart Nurse, will be based at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, but will be available to offer advice over the phone and to visit families in their homes throughout Northern Ireland.

Myrtle Neill, Director of Health at the NI Chest, Heart and Stroke Association, said: “This pioneering new post will make all the difference to families. We thank all those who helped to make it possible.”

Irwyn McKibbin, Chairman of Heartbeat, added: “We are very pleased to have been at the forefront of the introduction of this post and we know many families for whom it will come as a great relief.”

(MB)