LauraLynn, Ireland's Children's Hospice, is delighted to announce that it has won the Excellence in Healthcare Management Award at the Irish Healthcare Awards 2026.
The award recognises LauraLynn's entry, National Transformation of Children's Hospice Care Through Strategic Leadership, Community Expansion and Integrated Service Innovation, which highlighted a remarkable period of growth and development across the organisation.
Over recent years, LauraLynn has continued to expand its reach and impact, ensuring more children with life-limiting conditions and their families can access specialist care and support. In 2025 alone, 771 families engaged with LauraLynn services, while community teams delivered more than 3,900 visits to children and families throughout Ireland.
The award reflects the progress made through the delivery of LauraLynn's strategic vision, including the expansion of community hospice services, strengthened advocacy and research activity, and a continued focus on providing the highest quality care and support to children and families wherever they live.
Commenting on the award, Kerry McLaverty, CEO of LauraLynn, said:
"We are absolutely thrilled. I've been in LauraLynn 15 years, and it is a really special place. The commitment of the entire team and staff to making sure that we put the children and families that we support at the very centre of everything. That mission is central to everything. And from a strategy perspective everything that we do and we try to do is always about striving to make continuous improvement for the families we support. And it's a testament and a credit to the board, the management and all of the staff in making sure that we put that as our mission first and foremost and driving to make things better every day for those in our care."
The judges recognised LauraLynn's commitment to innovation, strong governance, service development and family-centred care, as well as the organisation's growing national impact.
This achievement belongs to the entire LauraLynn community. From clinical and family support teams to volunteers, fundraisers, researchers, advocates, supporters and donors, every person plays a role in helping children with life-limiting conditions and their families make the most of every precious moment together.
LauraLynn would like to thank the Irish Healthcare Awards and the award sponsor, Challenge, for this recognition. Most importantly, we would like to thank the children and families who inspire our work every day.
