I wish to assure the Deputy that there are no plans to close down urology or kidney units in Temple Street Hospital and Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children.
Approval for the appointment of two additional consultant nephrologists who will have sessional commitments with Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, the Children's hospital and Beaumont hospital was recently issued. I understand that the interview for these posts will be held in the near future.
The urology service at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children and the Children's Hospital is currently provided by a locum consultant surgeon. At present the post is shared by the three Dublin paediatric hospitals, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, the Adelaide & Meath hospital Dublin, incorporating the National Children's Hospital and the Children's Hospital, Temple Street. The hospitals recently submitted an application which envisaged a new structure for the post to Comhairle na nOspidéal. However, it is comhairle's opinion that the structure of the proposed post is contrary to that envisaged in its report on paediatric surgery services which issued in December 1998.
The Deputy will be aware that a Council for Children's Hospital Care has been established and includes representation from the three Dublin paediatric hospitals. The council's primary role is to assist the paediatric hospitals to work with each other and with the Eastern Regional Health Authority to plan and develop acute paediatric services on a co-ordinated basis in the functional area of the authority.
