A review of tertiary paediatric services carried out by McKinsey & Co. on behalf of the Health Service Executive recommended the establishment of a single tertiary paediatric hospital in Dublin, co-located with a leading adult academic hospital. Subsequently, a joint HSE/Department of Health and Children Task Group was established to advise on the optimum location of the proposed new hospital.
The Task Group's report was submitted to the Board of the HSE on 1st June last, and its recommendation that the new paediatric hospital be developed as an independent hospital on a site to be made available by the Mater Hospital was endorsed by the Board. At its meeting on 8th June, the Government also strongly endorsed the recommendation.
I am satisfied that the Task Group undertook a rigorous and robust examination of the key issues in arriving at its recommendation. The Group consulted widely with international experts in arriving at its recommendation, and gave in-depth consideration to the key issues of access, governance, clinical values and site suitability.
A joint HSE/Department of Health and Children Transition Group has been established to advance the development of the new Hospital. Among the key items to be addressed are the definition of a high level framework brief for the new Hospital and the determination of the scope and location of the Urgent Care Centres.
I recently met with representatives from Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children and was told that the hospital has commissioned its own report on the issues relating to the location of the National Paediatric Hospital. I understand that the joint Transition Group received a copy of the report and that a meeting between the Group and the Crumlin representatives has taken place.
I understand that the Joint Transition Group is in the process of contracting external assistance in relation to the development of a high level framework brief for the new hospital, and that the tender documentation for the contract specifically requires the report commissioned by Our Lady's Hospital to be taken into consideration in the preparation of the brief.
