Major children’s hospital plan gets the green light

THE go-ahead for the new children’s hospital on a campus shared with St James’s Hospital has been described as a “giant step forward for children’s healthcare in Ireland”.

Last week it was announced that An Bord Pleanála had decided to grant planning permission for the new children’s hospital and the Paediatric OPD and Urgent Care Centres at Tallaght and Connolly Hospital.

The Children’s Hospital Group, the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, the three children’s hospitals, St James’s Hospital, Minister for Health Leo Varadkar and the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital jointly welcomed the decision.

 “This truly is a watershed day for children, young people and their families,” Eilísh Hardiman, CEO of the Children’s Hospital Group said.

“Today’s decision will positively transform how paediatric services are deliv-ered for children and young people here in Ireland.

“We are now firmly on our way to making this long awaited children’s hospital a reality.”

She added: “Anyone who deals with paediatric services in Ireland – as a patient, a parent or as a member of staff – fully understands how badly this new facility is needed. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and the Design teams BDP & O’Connell Mahon, and all who contributed to getting us to this milestone.”

The CEOs of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin; the Temple Street Children’s University Hospital and the National Children’s Hospital at Tallaght Hospital, Helen Shortt, Mona Baker and David Slevin, jointly stated: “This is an his-toric and exciting development for children’s healthcare services in Ireland.

“Our staff in the three children’s hospitals will be working in a world-class, modern hospital that is custom-built to deliver the best care and treatments available.”

Speaking about the positive benefits that the decision will deliver for patients and staff of St James’s Hospital, Lorcan Birthistle, CEO, said: “We welcome today’s announcement and look forward to continuing to work with the Children’s Hospital Group and with the NPHDB to ensure that the design and location of the hospital best meets the needs of children and adolescents.”

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar TD said: “This is fantastic news for all the chil-dren of Ireland – it will produce a state-of-the-art hospital of which everyone can be proud.” 

Dr Sharon Sheehan, Master of the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital, added: “By ultimately combining the specialties of the maternity, paediatric and adult hospitals in this tri-location, the quality of care for our women and babies will be greatly enhanced.”

Louis Roden, a parent and long-time campaigner for a new children’s hospital said the decision had been a long time coming.

“For many parents, including myself, this hospital is coming too late for their children to benefit from it but nevertheless, I am delighted that we are now moving forward – and in the right direction.”

However, the Connolly for Kids Hospital C4KH) organisation believes that the Government was wrong to have presented the St James’s site for considera-tion.

“It remains the responsibility of the new Government to the children of Ireland of this and future generations to change the site,” they said in a statement. “This is the educated opinion of members of the Connolly for Kids Hospital group.

“The position of the constituent groups within the C4KH organisation is unaltered by An Bord Pleanála’s decision.

Jonathan Irwin, CEO and Founder of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, said he was “sad and disappointed” to hear that planning for the national children’s hospital had been granted at the St James’s Hospital site.