After 5 years of constant advocating on behalf of it’s members for an
improved paediatric rheumatology service, yesterday iCAN (Irish
Children’s Arthritis Network) received the news that advertisement and
recruitment for 11 new posts have been granted for Our Lady’s
Children’s Hospital Crumlin.

“We hope to see the waiting lists shortened and our members having
access to a full multi disciplinary team,” iCAN representatives
stated.

iCAN is an volunteer organisation that provides a national support network for
children with arthritis and their families. It endeavours to ensure
that all Irish children can avail of the minimum standard of medical
care recommended for children with juvenile arthritis as set out by
the World Health Organisation. This news is a huge step forward for
their cause. Ireland has struggled towards the bottom of the EU in regards to access to paediatric care for children battling Juvenile Arthritis.

Campaigning for this improvement in care has been a long process for iCAN with a
lot of time and effort invested in raising awareness and petitioning
those in a position to make the changes. No one knows this better than
the chairperson of iCAN, Wendy Costello, who was elated at the news and had
this to say:

“Today is a huge day for iCAN and all our members. It has been announced
that due to all our campaigning we will be getting a 3rd paediatric
rheumatologist and multi-disciplinary team.”  She went on to say that
this result has come from a lot of hard work campaigning by parents and she is
grateful for all the people who have helped iCAN get it over the line.

iCAN representatives not only thanked those who campaigned with them
but went on to offer sincere thanks also to all the elected
representatives who gave attention to the cause.

“A special mention to Mark McSharry TD, Anne Rabbitte TD, Bobby Aylward TD, Mattie McGrath TD and Maurice Quinlivan TD, and all those
who helped in any way. We are very grateful to the minister of health
Simon Harris TD and the HSE who have invested money in the paediatric
rheumatology service in OLCHC.“