Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 March 2012
709 Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health his plans to upgrade the cardiac and cancer services at Our lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin, in view of the outdated nature of the current facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15720/12]
View answerI am committed to providing the best possible health service for our children and their families. I want this to be delivered through a new National Children's Hospital where tertiary and acute services can be provided from one site.
Immediately following the decision of An Bord Pleanala to refuse planning permission for the National Children's Hospital, I announced my intention to establish a group to review the implications of the decision. The Government has agreed the terms of reference for the Review Group and I announced the composition of the group last week. Currently the three Dublin Children's Hospitals work together as a unified network under the leadership of a Clinical Director to ensure optimisation of resources and facilities. The Hospitals are fully aware of the challenges facing their young patients and of the need to support families.
The HSE has taken steps to provide as high a level of protection as possible for the funding of the children's hospitals. The budget adjustment to Our Lady's Hospital Crumlin was significantly less than the average in the HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster Service Plan 2012. Additional funding was also provided to Our Lady's Hospital Crumlin this year in order to strengthen the Cardiac Programme in the hospital, including the provision of funding for an additional Anaesthetist and a Cardiologist.
I am aware that the Medical and Research Foundation at Crumlin hospital, has launched an appeal for €8 million to help renovate the hospital's cancer ward and to build a new cardiac facility. I have no difficulty with Crumlin Children's hospital's decision to raise funds for a new cardiac unit at this time. However, I hope to expedite the building of the new hospital so that a new cardiac unit for Crumlin would be unnecessary.
The challenges presented by the current infrastructure in the current children's hospitals can only be fully addressed through the construction of the new National Children's Hospital. The delivery of a new national hospital, providing the highest level of care for the children of Ireland remains a priority for the Government. We are committed to building this hospital in the shortest possible time frame. I will await the completion of the work of the Review Group. One thing is clear; I am determined to deliver a national children's hospital for the children of this country.
710 Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health his views on reports of cramped conditions and a lack of privacy at Wexford General Hospital due to wards catering for more patients than they are designed for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15721/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
