Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 April 2016
576. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the considerations he has given to access for ambulances at the new maternity hospital to be built at the site of Connolly Blanchardstown Hospital in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6969/16]
View answerCo-locating maternity hospitals on the sites of acute hospitals is in line with international best practice, and helps ensure that mothers have immediate access to a full range of medical and support services, should the need for such services arise.
In 2015, following a review, I accepted the recommendation of my Department to relocate the Rotunda Hospital to the Connolly Hospital campus. One of the issues considered during the review was ambulance access and the campus was found to be suitable to host a maternity hospital, including from an access point of view. However, the project is still in the very early stages and further consideration will be necessary across a range of issues as the project develops. The Deputy may wish to note that the Rotunda has established a Clinical Vision and Scope Working Group to scope out the design requirements for the new hospital.
