The decision to proceed with the development of a new national children’s hospital on the Mater campus in Dublin has been broadly welcomed.
Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, which is to be merged into the new facility, said it was pleased with the decision and urged the Government to act swiftly in approving funds for the development.
“The children of Ireland deserve the best available clinical care, research and education expertise,” it said in a statement.
“Best international practice conclusively supports trilocation of an acute paediatric hospital with a major acute adult hospital and a maternity hospital. The Eccles Street site provides this.”
The chairman of the Mater Hospital John Morgan and Rotunda Hospital chairman Alan Ashe said they would continue work closely with their partner hospitals to progress the development of a “world class” children’s hospital.
Ombudsman for Children Emily Logan said she was encouraged by the news but that her interest was not in the location of the hospital but rather the greater agenda of child health.
“My interest is in accountability from the Government and putting children at the centre of the project,” Ms Logan said. “We want to build a centre of child excellence and should be striving for that.”
Some doubts have been raised about the availability of funding for capital projects but Ms Logan said she was eager to impress the importance of the project on the Minister for Health James Reilly as up to 350,000 children would be affected by its development.
The Development Board for the New Children’s Hospital said it was pleased the site for the facility had been confirmed and that it would meet early next week to formally approve the planning application and then submit it before the end of this month.
“The board shares completely the Minister’s stated desire that the new Children’s Hospital be delivered in pursuit of the best clinical outcomes for children, and within the resources available,” the board said in a statement.
Fianna Fáil health spokesman Billy Kelleher said the project was “vital” for children in Ireland and would greatly improve the delivery of critical and specialist care to them.
“A strong commitment [to funding] from Minister Reilly and this Government is essential if international philanthropic funds are to be sourced,” he said.
Sinn Féin health spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said there would never be a perfect site for the hospital but that it was far more important that a definite decision was taken and the new development got underway.
“All are agreed that a national centre is needed and all concerned should press for the necessary capital funding to be made available by the Government in its September capital expenditure review,” he said.
Roisin Healy, of the New Children’s Hospital Alliance, was critical of the decision.
“I don’t think the funding is there and I don’t think children’s rights were put first,” she said. “We would still be hopeful the voice of sanity for the children of Ireland will persevere.”
The charity Children in Hospital Ireland said it was time for all parties involved “to unite to ensure the new children's hospital will be the best in the world” and becomes a reality before long.
Dublin Central TDs Joe Costello (Labour) and Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael) both said they were pleased the debate about the suitability of the Mater site had been settled.