Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of staffing levels at the children’s hospital. A serious letter has been written by all 12 surgeons at the department of paediatric surgery and urology at Children’s Health Ireland. I believe it has gone to the Minister for Health. In this letter, the surgeons outline bizarrely that the plans for opening the new children’s hospital will see it understaffed from day one. The surgeons believe that they have been ignored and that the recommended workforce of 17 paediatric surgeons has not been factored in. In their words, they believe that will impact negatively on the provision of safe and sustainable services. They go on to outline their concerns that this risk has not been properly assessed. I am sure the Taoiseach will agree that this is an unacceptable situation. This hospital is now delayed five years and there still is no proper plan to open it. What will he do in respect of this staffing shortfall?

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