A LEADING doctor at the Coombe Women’s and Infants University Hospital has outlined new proposals for a National Children’s Hospital at a site near the South Circular Road.
The Master of the Coombe, Dr Chris Fitzpatrick, has revealed how he believes the hospital, excluding fit out costs, could be built for
?¬358 million.
The figure compares favorably with costs associated with plans to build a similar hospital near St James’s Hospital, on the Mater site or on the Phoenix Park racecourse.
According to Dr Fitzpatrick, by building the new hospital near the Coombe savings in the region of an estimated
?¬100 million could be achieved.
Under the proposal a further
?¬20 million could be saved if a multi-storey car park was built on the site as opposed to an underground car park.
He also claimed that 60 per cent of the 20.5 acres site would remain free for further training, education and research developments. It would be easily accessible by public and private transport, and has links to primary and national routes and the Luas red line.
“This current Coombe proposal was not possible in 2006,
? he said.
“It would have been unaffordable six years ago during the boom time. It has taken a recession to make this enormous tri-located and essentially green field site readily available for the development of a National Paediatric Hospital.
“We have the vision, the ability and the momentum to bring everyone in the country together in the interests of the children now.
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He added:
“We can deliver the National Paediatric Hospital on this site, not only faster and at a lower cost than for any other comparable site, but we will do it with a deep sense of civic duty, national self-belief and pride.
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Meanwhile, the Government’s National Children’s Hospital review group is expected to report back to the Government this month regarding potential site locations.
Various proposals have been submitted to the group, and it is their responsibility to provide a clear evaluation of the potential sites.
It is then the Government’s responsibility to pick the best suited location.