Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

In the context of the Minister's commitment to adhere to best international medical and clinical advice that there be co-location with an adult teaching hospital, the terms of reference of the review group under the chairmanship of Dr. Frank Dolphin in assessing various sites do not refer to this as being sacrosanct. Clearly, if best international practice, based on the McKinsey report and the report that the Minister himself commissioned last year, is that there be co-location with an adult teaching hospital to secure the best clinical outcomes, should this not have been included in the terms of reference to ensure the review group can only look at sites where co-location is an the option, as opposed to greenfield sites? Are we limiting the potential to provide a world-class co-located facility by not even mentioning this in the group's terms of reference in the context of seeking the best clinical outcomes in the provision of paediatric care?

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