20/07/2026
Young patients at the Western Trust Children’s Ward, Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry/Londonderry recently welcomed a very special visitor when assistance dog Mia spent time supporting children and families during hospital appointments and procedures.
Mia visited the unit to provide reassurance to a patient during treatment. Her calm and friendly presence quickly spread smiles throughout the department, helping children feel more relaxed while brightening the day for families and staff.
Cathy Grady, Play Specialist Nurse at Altnagelvin Hospital expressed her delight to welcoming a very special visitor to the Children’s Ward she said:
“Mia provided incredible comfort and support to one of our patients during their procedure. Her visit brought smiles to so many people and created a wonderfully positive atmosphere throughout the department.”
For many families, assistance dogs can make an enormous difference. Karrine Doherty, whose daughter Clodagh is autistic, said Mia has transformed healthcare appointments.
“It took us a long time to get to the point where Clodagh could attend appointments. We genuinely wouldn’t have made it to appointments without Mia. These dogs are so important for children and adults with anxiety.”
Mia is one of the assistance dogs trained by Assistance Dogs Northern Ireland (ADNI), which provides autism and disability assistance dogs, as well as full-time school assistance dogs across Northern Ireland.
Geraldine McGaughey, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of ADNI, said:
“Assistance dogs provide comfort, reassurance and confidence. They help people manage anxiety and make experiences such as hospital visits, blood tests and medical appointments much more achievable.”
Mia, a four-and-a-half-year-old Labradoodle, was trained to support people with autism and now also visits hospitals and care settings and schools, where her calm nature helps people feel safe, supported and more confident during challenging situations.
The visit highlighted the positive role assistance dogs can play in healthcare, helping to reduce anxiety and improve the experience of patients and their families.
Cathy Grady added:
“A huge thank you to Friends of Altnagelvin for funding Mia’s visit to our Children’s Ward. Also thank you to Karrine and her daughter Clodagh for sharing their hospital journey and of course to our very special visitor Mia for making this experience more calm and relaxed for everyone. We look forward to seeing Mia on more occasions in the future.”