Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 315: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will make a statement on the redevelopment of Crumlin Hospital; if her attention has been drawn to the views of the new Crumlin Hospital group (details supplied); her views on whether the redevelopment is urgent and long overdue; when she will publish the review of the hospital's needs; and her further views on whether the needs of sick children should be the sole determining factor in selecting a new hospital site. [1118/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It has been accepted that the current 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 current 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 has undertaken a detailed examination of the potential to redevelop the hospital on its present site. The project team 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 that they are provided in the most efficient and effective manner. The HSE recently engaged a team of management consultants to provide a report on the strategic organisation of tertiary paediatric services in Ireland. Specifically, the report is to identify whether tertiary paediatric services should be provided on one or more sites, the facilities required to meet tertiary needs and the facilities required to meet secondary — less complex — paediatric services in Dublin.

This review is ongoing and the HSE expects to receive the consultants' report by the end of January. The outcome will help to inform the decisions in relation to the future location and the range of services to be provided at the new hospital.