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The six hospital schools in the Cape Peninsula held a hospital schools conference on 22 August 2003 at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital. The schools were Groote Schuur Hospital School, Maitland Cottage Home Hospital School, Princess Alice Hospital School, Red Cross Children's Hospital Primary School, St Joseph's Hospital School and Tygerberg Hospital School. The theme for the conference was Education and Care for the Hospitalized Child. The conference was opened by the MEC for Education Western Cape, Adv. Andre Gaum. Teachers from each hospital school presented papers and were supported by medical and paramedical staff. Sylvia Muller from Red Cross Children's Hospital School, presented The Child Admitted to the Therapeutic Learning Centre (TLC). She was supported by Willem de Jager, the senior psychologist in charge of the TLC. Michelle Shargey also from Red Cross Children's Hospital School, presented Education for the Transplant Child and was supported by Dr Mignon McCullough, Head of the Renal Unit at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital.
Other papers presented by the other hospital school teachers included the diabetic child, children with HIV/Aids, children with cancer and children admitted to hospital for long term stay in hospital.
The one day conference was well attended by educators, officials from the Western Cape Education Department and medical and nursing staff. Dr Matthi Theron, Director for ELSEN Schools (Education for Learners with Special Educational Needs), stated that hospital schools would not be closed. He indicated that changes will have to take place to allow hospital schools to become resource centres and full service schools.