European Association for Children in Hospital

EACH is the umbrella organisation for member associations involved in the welfare of all children before, during or after a hospital stay. The member associations of EACH aim to have the principles of the EACH Charter incorporated in health laws, regulations and guidelines in each European country. 

The activities are adapted to the needs of each particular country and are basically oriented:

• to advise, inform and support families/carers of sick children, regardless of their illness or handicap, before during and after a stay in hospital;
• to promote the welfare of sick children amongst doctors, nurses and other professionals;
• to negotiate with governmental authorities to improve the care of children in health care services.

The rights mentioned in the EACH Charter apply to all sick children, regardless of their illness or age or disability, their origin or their social or cultural background, or of any possible reason for treatment or forms or places of treatment, whether as in-patients or out-patients.

Implementing the EACH Charter means at the same time implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (in particular art. 24, 3, 5, 9, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23.3/4, 25, 28, 29.1, 30, 31).

Implementation of the ten points of the EACH Charter needs a new approach in the training of doctors and nurses involved in the care of sick children. They need to regard children and their families/carers as a unit and accept children as equal partners in all areas of health care. They must be cared for in an environment suited to their needs and by staff trained in children’s care.