Written answers

Tuesday, 29 November 2005

Department of Health and Children

Hospital Services

9:00 pm

Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 155: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if Crumlin hospital will be closed; and her views on the uses of the site. [36479/05]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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It is accepted that the infrastructure at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children does not generally meet the standards required for a modern paediatric hospital. The available facilities do not satisfactorily accommodate the range and extent of clinical and associated activity. In recognition of this, a project team was established to plan for the overall future development of Our Lady's Hospital, either on the existing hospital site or at an alternative green field location.

The project team undertook a detailed examination of the potential to redevelop the hospital on its present site. It concluded that the existing clinical services could be retained and developed on the present site but also set out the implications of such an approach in terms of time, cost and disruption to services. As a consequence, it is likely that the new hospital will be located at an alternative site.

I asked the Health Service Executive to arrange for a review to be undertaken of highly specialised paediatric services to ensure they are provided in the most efficient and effective manner. The outcome of this review will help to inform the decision on the range of services to be provided at the new Crumlin hospital. I expect this review to be completed as a matter of urgency. It is proposed that a site option appraisal study will be carried out when the review has been completed. The focus of the study will be to evaluate the options for the relocation of the hospital, leading to the acquisition of an alternative site, if such is recommended by the process. The study will be subject to public tendering procedures.

Pending final decisions with regard to the future location of the hospital, three clinical departments were identified as requiring urgent upgrade or expansion. The three departments are haematology and oncology, radiology including MRI, and cardiology. The haematology and oncology project consists of the provision of new accommodation for day and outpatient services. The radiology project will provide new MRI facilities in Crumlin. The cardiology project will provide dedicated inpatient cardiac beds, together with diagnostic, outpatient and administration facilities. Additional revenue funding is required in 2006 to commission the MRI facilities, and I can confirm that this funding is available to the Health Service Executive.

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