Professor Chris Fitzpatrick:

I agree. Those who object to the site do so for many reasons. The key objection at the present time relates to the absence of maternity co-location. Other reasons are cited including cost, nationwide access, expansion capability and space, but the key issue is the absence of a maternity hospital co-location. That is what will stop it being a world-class centre. My argument is that if we are building the most expensive hospital in the world, and calling it a centre of excellence, and if it is going to be a world-class hospital, it should not exclude those babies who have the highest mortality rates, the children who need to have access to this.

The other issue in respect of Connolly Hospital is its range of specialty expertise in the context of its academic prowess. St. James's Hospital, the Mater and St. Vincent's Hospital are at a different level in the support they would provide to a co-locating maternity hospital, and to a co-locating paediatric hospital. Academically, and in terms of its medical specialties, St. James's hospital is the right site. There was no ideal site for this. We put in a proposal which was short-listed to the final three. It was an imaginative proposal but the decision has been made. There were flaws in how that decision was made but the one issue that will convert much of the angst, frustration and criticism of this site is to somehow ascertain whether it can accommodate a maternity hospital, which I believe it can. There is a way of establishing flexible arrangements between the Coombe and St. James's Hospital can be achieved, and we should go ahead and do it. Everyone would row in behind that.

There has been a lot of criticism of the project and the wow factor that should pertain to this hospital has been lost. It needs to be rediscovered and we need to work together to make it happen. My concern is that St. James's Hospital is a busy site academically and clinically. It is fanciful to think that a space can be held or sterilised for five or ten years and then made available. I am also concerned that if it goes on for years, some 200 babies annually will not have access to this hospital. This figure will increase with increasing pre-natal diagnosis. The Coombe is also seeing referrals from the North of Ireland. This hospital will have a referral basis from the whole island of Ireland. A lot of babies will lose out on this. We need to get the co-location. People are looking at the finances but somebody needs to look at the site and reassure everyone the maternity hospital will go in there. It should be put in the capital plan with the design started now, whether it is done back-to-back or some works can be started in advance, but it should be prioritised in relation to St. James Hospital and the capital plan. It currently exists nowhere.