Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 563: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the problem at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin due to a shortage of necessary ICU beds as in the case of a person (details supplied); if she will ensure this issue is addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38851/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 627: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has received correspondence from the friends and family of a person (details supplied); when it is expected that surgery will proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39180/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 563 and 627 together.

I am very conscious of the importance of providing high quality services across all three children's hospitals in Dublin - Crumlin, Temple Street and Tallaght. All three hospitals prioritise their services in accordance with clinical need.

Careful planning of critical care services, including those for cardiac patients, is vital. To this end, the HSE commissioned the DNV Consortium management consultancy to review current paediatric critical care facilities and services in Our Lady's Children's Hospital and the Children's University Hospital, Temple Street with a view to developing paediatric intensive care services in the period leading up to the opening of the new national paediatric hospital.

The Irish Paediatric Critical Care network has been established by the HSE with an independent chair to progress the report's recommendations. Additional revenue funding has been allocated to the hospitals this year to commence the implementation of these recommendations. Three new posts of consultant paediatric intensivists have been approved recently.

The HSE has committed to progressing a capital development at Our Lady's Hospital Crumlin to secure additional high quality critical care beds at the hospital as quickly as possible. It must also be stressed that the provision of additional ICU beds is an interim measure pending the completion of the new National Paediatric Hospital, which will combine the services provided by the three paediatric hospitals in Dublin.

The HSE has committed to replacing 13 of Crumlin Hospital's existing ICU beds and to introduce 4 new ICU beds, within 18 months. This will bring the total number of ICU beds at the hospital to 25. The design allows for the provision of an additional 5 ICU beds, subject to approval. A tender for design consultancy services relating to this project has recently been approved. The project team has already met the design team to advance the project in as short a time frame as possible.

The HSE and Crumlin Hospital are examining options to address the current cardiac waiting list service need in advance of the new ICU project being completed. Correspondence has been received in my Department in relation to the specific case mentioned by the Deputies and the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputies in this matter.