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National Children's Hospital

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019

Tuesday, 23 July 2019

Questions (1146)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

1146. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 870 of 8 May 2019, the specific cost of the building of the private clinic at the new national children’s hospital; and the way in which it is intended that the State will recuperate this money. [31851/19]

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Written answers

The presence of a private suite allows Children’s Health Ireland to meet the contractual obligations of the consultants who are working on public/private contracts as per national healthcare policy.

There are private clinics currently located on the grounds of each the existing three children’s hospitals.

The private outpatient clinic at the new children’s hospital represents circa 0.25% of the clinical space within the new children’s hospital. There are a total of 129 outpatient clinical exam rooms primarily accessed off the main concourse on the ground and lower ground floor of the new children’s hospital, each of which are identical in design and fit out. There are 8 clinical exam rooms in the private outpatient clinic.

The private outpatients clinic is located adjacent to the south entrance (Rialto Luas Stop) on the ground floor of the hospital. Patients for all clinics will check in to the same reception areas in the main concourse and will be directed to a number of shared outpatient main wait areas. Once called to be seen, the patient will access the private outpatient clinic via a doorway from the shared outpatient main wait area. Patients will access the private outpatient clinic from the concourse, as outlined above, and not from a separate external entrance. There will not be an independent, external entrance/exit to the clinic.

Ultimately, the proposal is for consultants to pay a fee for use of the rooms and other operational costs. The proposed level of fee has not been determined yet.

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