Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Regarding the last point, we need a new hospital badly. If there is no single new hospital, major work will need to be done at the Temple Street Children's Hospital, which is not fit for purpose, and at Crumlin hospital. The decision was made two years ago, the project is proceeding, money will be provided and there is a great deal of interest in making provision for the hospital.

As I recently stated in the House, the HSE has shown that a minimum of €25 million per year can be saved in duplication costs by combining the three hospitals. Much work has been undertaken to bring them closer together. There will be a joint department of surgery and seven surgeons. There are five currently, one of whom is retiring, so the increase will be two. The surgeons will work in at least two of the hospitals. There will be a single paediatric critical care service between Temple Street and Crumlin hospitals, the implementation of which will be overseen by Dr. Des Bohn of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Much work is under way.

As I have stated in the House previously, three accident and emergency departments will be open in this city between midnight and 8 a.m. tonight, with theatres and staff on call. On average, they see approximately 29 patients between them. I had a good meeting recently with Professor Brendan Drumm and some of Crumlin hospital's medical team, led by Dr. Pat Doherty, the chairman of the hospital's medical board, Dr. Michael McDermott and others to discuss how to better integrate services and paediatric services generally in the Dublin area.

Next week, a new clinical affairs director, a doctor, will start at the HSE. Bringing clinicians further into the management of services such as paediatrics will greatly help to get better value for money and more services for patients.

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