Paediatrics

General Paediatic Clinic

General health: 

Including, though not limited to:

• Colic/excessive crying in babies
• Reflux
• Poor feeding
• Sleep issues
• Weight issues
• Fatigue
• Chest pain
• Sleep problems
• Enlarged lymph nodes

Gastrointestinal

Common gastrointestinal/stomach issues can include: 

• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhoea and constipation

Allergies and respiratory issues

• Persistent cough
• Eczema
• Hay fever
• Recurring respiratory infections
• Asthma
• Skin rashes
• URTI including recurring laryngitis, sore throat and sinus infection

Children who attend with symptoms associated with airway, skin and food allergies, may be referred to our Paediatric Allergy Consultant for further care, as clinically appropriate.  Please note that we do not offer food challenges as part of this clinic.

Gynaecological, bladder and puberty related issues

• Night-time bedwetting (Enuresis) 
• Recurring Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
• Issues related to puberty like: 

1. Menorrhagia - menstrual bleeding that is very heavy or lasts more than 7 days.       
2. Amenorrhoea - the absence of menstruation, often defined as missing one or more menstrual periods. Primary amenorrhea refers to the absence of menstruation in someone who has not had a period by age 15.

Musculoskeletal and Rheumatology

Our paediatricians see issues such as limb pain, which can affect all or part of a leg or arm. 

Children who attend with chronic/non-traumatic orthopaedic conditions may be referred to our Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon for further care, as clinically appropriate. 

Children who attend our general paediatrics clinic and present with symptoms suggestive of a rheumatological condition, may be referred onwards to our paediatrician with a special interest in paediatric rheumatology for further care, as is clinically appropriate.

Yes. Children can access state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment from scans to x-rays. If required, an appointment will be made at your child's consultation for a later date. Clinical tests can also include bloods as part of a consultation, if necessary.

• Paediatric ultrasound: children may be referred to our Paediatric Ultrasound Clinic which runs monthly, should this examination be required. 
• X-ray: children may be referred for an x-ray, when necessary.

Dr. David Vaughan

Consultant Paediatrician

Dr. David Vaughan's primary focus is innovation in the care of children, with patient safety at the forefront. Having graduated from UCD in 1992, he undertook training in paediatrics in Dublin from 1993 - 1998. 

Dr. Vaughan trained in Paediatric Intensive Care in the US at Seattle Children's 1998 - 2000 and Paediatric Respiratory Medicine in Texas Children's 2000 - 2003. 

In 2003, he was appointed a Consultant Paediatrician in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. He was Director of Leadership in the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (2011 - 2013) and Director of Quality and Safety for Hamad Medical Corporation (2013 - 2016), Director of Quality and Safety Children's Health Ireland (2016 - 2020).

Dr Daire O'Leary

Consultant Paediatrician

Dr Daire O’Leary is a consultant paediatrician with a special interest in paediatric rheumatology.         

Dr O'Leary supports children in our general paediatric clinic as well as supporting children that need further Rheumatological care.

She qualified from UCD in 2006 and completed basic and specialist training in paediatrics in Ireland, including subspecialty training in paediatric rheumatology.  She completed a masters in clinical education through University College Galway and worked in clinical education for 4 years. 

She received the Newman Fellowship in Paediatric Rheumatology through University College Dublin Newman Foundation and completed a PhD looking at the genetics of a rare rheumatic disease called chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CRMO/CNO). 

In addition to her clinical work in Vhi, she continues to collaborate on a number of research projects in the fields of rheumatology and clinical education.

Consultant paediatrician

Consults on health, growth and development of babies, children and teenagers.

Occupational therapist

Advice, support and intervention for children who struggle with planning, organisational skills and sensory issues.

Nurse

Provides nursing care to a child and their families with a resulting positive impact on the child's health and wellbeing. 

Physiotherapy

Advice, support and intervention for children and adolescents with developmental, movement or co-ordination difficulties. 

Psychology

A consultation based service for children, young people and parents to support a child with emotional regulation behavioural difficulties and stress. 

Speech and language therapy

A consultation based service where you can discuss your child's speech and language development and receive individually tailored advice and intervention.