Illness Specific Criteria

The treatment and care of young people with cancer has unique challenges. When compared to incidence of cancer in adults, incidence of childhood cancer in Ireland is relatively low. Fortunately, survival rates for many of these cancers are relatively high leading to children having many psychosocial needs that need to be met once acute treatment is completed. Medical care needs specific to these campers can include management of febrile neutropenia, central line care, oral chemotherapy, blood sampling while at camp and additional nutritional support.

Two common conditions under this speciality seen in Barretstown are sickle cell disease (SCD) and haemophilia. Medical care needs specific to these campers can include keeping the camper warm, dry and hydrated to avoid a sickle cell crisis, management of a sickle cell crisis with early recognition and pain relief, monitoring for any knocks/falls that may cause a bleed in a camper with haemophilia and prompt treatment of a bleed with intravenous factor if required.

These campers include a range of dermatological conditions that impact on the day-to-day life of the child. This includes epidermolysis bullosa which is a rare condition that causes fragile, blistering skin. Preventing skin infection in these campers while they are at camp is extremely important, with prompt treatment of any breaks to skin that occur while these campers are out enjoying camp to the full.

Epilepsy and cerebral palsy, are two examples of neurological conditions catered for at Barretstown. Medical care needs specific to these campers while at camp include continuing at home preventative treatment, seizure management if needed, personal care and nutritional care needs. In order to attend our kids only summer camps safely without their parents, seizures in camper’s with epilepsy should be controlled.

Various endocrine conditions are served by Barretstown, with Type 1 Diabetes being one of them. Ireland has a relatively high incidence of Type 1 Diabetes in children and adolescents, and we attempt to serve as many of these children and adolescents as we can at our family camp. Medical care of these campers while at Barretstown include monitoring of blood sugars, administration of insulin (as prescribed by the child’s hospital team), pump and set changes.

Examples of campers in this speciality that are catered for at Barretstown include those in renal failure and those who have undergone kidney transplant. Medical care for these campers while at Barretstown include fluid intake and blood pressure monitoring, continuing medications given at home to control blood pressure and in some cases continuation of at home peritoneal dialysis (this is dependent on varying factors like staff resources and stability of child’s condition).

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an example of a respiratory condition that is catered for at Barretstown as this is a lifelong diagnosis that can have a significant impact of the child’s quality of life. Only one camper with CF can come to camp at a time but we attempt to serve as many of these campers as possible inside this confinement. Medical care for these campers while at Barretstown includes continuing nebulisation and physio treatment.

There are many genetic conditions served by Barretstown, with one example being Hunter syndrome which is a rare genetic disorder in which the body does not properly break down (digest) certain sugar molecules. Campers with genetic conditions can come with complex medical and physical needs including personal care, mobility needs, feeding needs and complex medication needs. For a genetic condition to be served by Barretstown the genetic diagnosis must lead to complex medical or care needs and impact the child’s life like a serious illness would.

These campers include those with congenital or acquired heart disease and those that have received a heart transplant with some of these campers having spent a lot of their lives in hospitals, completely reliant on a continuous infusion in order to stay alive and undergoing multiple surgeries. Medical care for these campers while at Barretstown can include ensuring rest or camper does not over exert and continuing vital cardiac medication.

Children affected by primary and secondary immunodeficiency can attend Barretstown camps. Without a well-functioning immune system, becoming unwell or frequent infections are more likely and therefore care for these campers while at camp includes preventing infection and monitoring closely with prompt treatment if the camper becomes unwell.

This speciality includes mitochondrial diseases or disorders. These campers often come to camp with additional complex care needs including personal care, mobility needs, feeding needs and complex medication needs.