A coalition of 13 leading charities is calling for the establishment of a dedicated fund for Northern Ireland to help families cover the hidden and "often insurmountable" costs of having a child in hospital.
At an event at Stormont on Monday, attended by local families and MLAs, the NICHC launched independent research outlining the hidden cost of having a child in hospital to demonstrate the additional financial costs parents and caregivers face.
The findings show that families experienced substantial financial burdens, incurring average costs of £351.96 per day. These include travel costs, parking, overnight accommodation, as well as daily living expenses and an average daily loss of earnings of £109.57.
