Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I am responding on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Mary Harney, Minister for Health and Children. The HSE has informed the Minister that the case of the child in question, which is complex, has been the subject of discussion between Cork University Hospital and the relevant specialists at the Children's University Hospital, Temple Street. Owing to the serious nature of this case it is being dealt with as a priority. In the circumstances it has been agreed the patient should be treated in Beaumont Hospital and the clinicians involved are currently working to agree a suitable date for surgery.

In Ireland, adult neurosurgery is undertaken in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin and in Cork University Hospital. There are currently 13 posts of consultants in neurosurgery, of which four have a special interest in paediatrics. Currently, service provision for paediatric neurosurgery is spread between the two adult neurosurgery centres and two of the children's hospitals in Dublin. All paediatric neurosurgery services will eventually be provided at the new national paediatric hospital.

The HSE commissioned a review in 2007 of current paediatric neurosurgery services in Ireland. This clinically-led review supported an approach in which all paediatric neurosurgical activity is undertaken by trained neurosurgeons with a special interest in children, with close links to the adult neurosurgical service and in an environment which is focused on the needs of children. This has informed an early decision to approve two neurosurgery posts with a special interest in paediatrics. The HSE has allocated €2 million from development funds provided in 2009 to support the development of a citywide paediatric neurosurgery service in Dublin. The two consultant posts are being progressed through the recruitment process and two consultant anaesthetist posts have been advertised to support this service.

This also shows the urgent need to bring together all complex hospital services for children in one national paediatric hospital.

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