Residents offered information on childrens hospital

MEMBERS of the local community in Dublin 8 are being offered the chance to drop into a dedicated information centre where they can view a physical 3D model of the proposed new children’s hospital to be located on a campus shared with St James’s Hospital.

The largest and most significant capital investment project ever undertaken in healthcare in Ireland, it is envisaged that the hospital will result in better clinical outcomes, improved survival rates for the sickest children and significantly enhance the experience of service for young people and their families.

At the start of August, the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) submitted the planning application for the new children’s hospital as well as for the two Paediatric OPD and Urgent Care Satellite Centres at Tallaght Hospital and Connolly Hospital to An Bord Pleanála.

Members of the public will be able to see a 3D model of the hospital, to review all of the content submitted to An Bord Pleanála in soft copy, as well as access FAQ documents and information boards which detail the various aspects of the new children’s hospital project at the new dedicated information centre that is located at 568 South Circular Road.

John Pollock, Project Director, NPHDB said: “We have engaged in over 1,000 hours of consultation and deliberation with residents from the Dublin 8 area, with staff from the existing three children’s hospitals, as well as with families, young people and children who are former or current users of the service.

“This extensive consultation process has led to the development of a world-class building which has been designed to enable staff to deliver the best possible clinical care for children and young people, while also seeking to provide a pleasant environment for staff and families.

“Members of the public will be able to review the designs and model at the dedicated information centre, which is located in the heart of the community, and staffed by members of the NPHDB team.

“A central objective for the NPHDB is that there is an economic and social benefit for the Dublin 8 residential and business communities. “The commitment is to maximise the community benefit during both the construction and operational phases of the hospital,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cllr Charlie O’Connor (FF) has welcomed confirmation from the project team of the New National Children’s Hospital that an information campaign is being arranged to inform the community in Tallaght of plans for the National Children’s Hospital and the Urgent Care Centre.

Cllr O’Connor had first raised the question at a special session in the Council Chamber at County Hall which had been arranged to inform local councillors of plans in respect of the new development.

The project team has now told Cllr O’Connor that an information display of the plans is being arranged for the Square in Tallaght and details will be formally announced soon.

According to Cllr O’Connor, each home in Tallaght is to receive a copy of the newly published National Children’s Hospital Connect newsletter which answers a number of questions on the plans for the project that were recently submitted to An Bord Pleanála.

According to Cllr O’Connor there will be particular interest in the area with regard to the proposed Urgent Care Satellite Centre at Tallaght Hospital and he expects that local residents will have questions in that regard.