The re-location of Temple Street Hospital to the Mater Hospital campus has been under consideration for some time by the religious orders who own the two hospitals concerned. My Department supports the transfer of Temple Street Hospital to the Mater campus because of the need to improve the quality of paediatric hospital accommodation and the potential benefits to both hospitals of shared infrastructural support and complementary clinical services.
Earlier this year I approved the appointment of the design team for the Mater Hospital development. Its initial task will be the preparation of a development control plan, DCP, for the entire Mater site, including the relocation of the Children's Hospital, Temple Street, followed by Phase I of the Mater development. The relocation of the Children's Hospital is included in Phase II of the development.
However, in the interim, it is vital that existing services for children on the north side of the city are maintained to a high standard. For this reason, my Department recently approved funding of £2 million for the refurbishment of the accident and emergency department and the provision of a new 20 bedded ward at the Children's Hospital, Temple Street. Work is well advanced on the planning of this development.
The Deputy will wish to know that I have also approved the following funding in 1998 for the Children's Hospital, Temple Street:
