Connolly now favourite for national paediatric hospital

BLANCHARDSTOWN’S Connolly Hospital is now believed to be the frontrunner to be chosen as the most suitable site for the national paediatric hospital.

An eagerly anticipated decision from the Dolphin Group, which is reviewing potential sites for the national children’s hospital is expected in the coming weeks.

The Mater site, in Dublin’s north inner city, was the original chosen location for the children’s facility until its planning application was controversially turned down in February of this year because of the scale the project.

Having gone back to the drawing board, the review group is understood to have considered 40 options.

Northside People exclusively revealed in early April that Connolly Hospital submitted its bid to have the new development located on its lands in Blanchardstown.

The hospital board hope that its bid as a suitable location for the new site for the national paediatric hospital will be favoured in light of its improved accessibility, services and the availability of land for expansion.

It is the second time that Connolly Hospital has submitted a proposal in relation to the development of the national paediatric hospital.

It was ruled out of the initial planning stage when the Mater Hospital was chosen as the preferred location for the development. But the most recent push for the children’s hospital in Connolly has gathered significantly more momentum.

It is expected to win out over high-profile rival sites such as the Mater Hospital and St James’s Hospital.

In mid-March, Minister for Health James Reilly asked the group, which is chaired by former HSE chairman and businessman Frank Dolphin, to report back within two months.

However, the delay in publishing the group’s findings is frustrating many people, including local TD Patrick Nulty (Lab) who last week called for the Minister for Health to publish the National Paediatric Hospital Review Group report.

“I have been on the record for some time in saying I believe that James Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown has made a very compelling case from a geographical, economic and most importantly patient care perspective as a site for the new hospital,

? Deputy Nulty stated.

“However, I know dedicated work has gone into preparing other bids too.

“That is why it is essential and in the public interest that the Dolphin Report is published in full and placed in the public domain.

“The Cabinet must make a decision on this over the autumn months in order to provide clarity and certainty to all concerned parties and in particular groups advocating on behalf of patients and their families.

?

Deputy Nulty also called for the site selection process to be open, transparent and inclusive.

“That means that the full findings of Mr Dolphin’s review group should be available to the Oireachtas and the community at large and not just be available to the Minister alone,

? he concluded.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said:

“The Minister expects to bring the matter to Cabinet in the coming weeks.

?