THE Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital is to be relocated to St James’s under a new plan unveiled by the Department of Health last week.
The proposal, which will also see the Rotunda move to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, was broadly welcomed. It follows an earlier decision to redevelop the National Maternity Hospital at Holles Street on the campus of St Vincent’s in Dublin 4.
A review of the proposed sites in Dublin was necessary following the Government’s decision to develop the new children’s hospital at the St James’s campus and the need to have a maternity hospital on that site. Subject to planning permission being secured, it means that all three Dublin maternity hospitals will at a future stage be located alongside major adult teaching hospitals.
Confirming the decision, the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, said:
“While the Rotunda and the Coombe have served Dublin and the country well as standalone hospitals, current best practice is to co-locate maternity hospitals with adult acute hospitals. Both hospitals need significant capital investment, particularly the Rotunda, which is more than a century old in parts.
“Rebuilding these hospitals on new campus sites will be safer for mothers and will ensure access to a full range of specialised services like intensive care, cardiology and other specialities when needed, without necessitating patient transfer.
“Tri-location with paediatric services further enhances the clinical benefits for the sickest newborn babies for the same reasons. Today’s announcement is clear evidence of the Government’s commitment to improving and modernising maternity care in Ireland. We will now need to examine funding models so that we can deliver the new facilities as early as possible.
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Welcoming the announcement, Dr Sharon Sheehan, Master of the Coombe, said:
“The tri-location model of maternity, paediatric, and adult services, will, I believe, enhance the quality of care provided to women and children across the country, and as such, we fully endorse the development of the new children’s hospital at St James’s, and we welcome the opportunity to be the maternity hospital within this tri-located model.
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Approximately 40 per cent of babies delivered in Irish hospitals are born at the Coombe, Holles St or the Rotunda.
According to the Department of Health, the proposed move of the National Maternity Hospital from Holles Street to St Vincent’s University Hospital is progressing. A design team is in place and it is anticipated that a planning application will be submitted later this year.