Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 December 2013
254. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the national children's hospital development plan has been advanced to date; the degree to which he expects the plan to be on target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54689/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra255. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the final design, including accommodation and bed numbers, in respect of the new children's hospital has been decided; when construction work is expected to begin; the extent to which moneys expended previously in respect of the formerly nominated sites can be offset against similar preparatory work on a new site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54690/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 255 together.
The new children's hospital project is a priority for this Government. The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) is the body responsible for the capital project. Last August, I announced appointments to this Board to replace the transitional Board which had been in place since January this year. These appointments bring architectural, planning, procurement, engineering and construction expertise to the project. In August I also announced appointments to the Children's Hospital Group Board which, as client for the project, will play a key role in ensuring the new hospital is optimally designed and completed as swiftly as possible.
Prior to the commencement of construction, key elements of the project include design development, decant works for the site and planning permission. The new NPHDB has reviewed the design team procurement process, which had been initiated in July, and decided on a change of approach based on its collective expertise and taking into account changing market conditions. While this means that the design team will be selected in Spring 2014, rather than by the end of this year as originally planned, the Board is confident there will be no delay to the project overall. Pre-application planning discussions have commenced, a masterplan for the St. James's Hospital campus is being prepared and St. James's Hospital is working closely with the Development Board and the HSE in relation to the decant phase of the project. Work on the review of urgent care centre configuration is at an advanced stage and I intend to bring proposals in this regard to Government shortly.
Planning for the number of beds for the new children's hospital was undertaken during the previous phase of this project on the Mater campus, based on ongoing analysis of paediatric hospital activity, ongoing review of Diagnostic Related Groups (clinical activity), review of existing and future service plans with each of the specialty groups and application of National CSO Population and Labour Force Projections. This was carried out in parallel with a review of paediatric acute care trends internationally and the application of LEAN healthcare principles. Following the Government decision to locate the hospital on the St James's campus, further analysis of existing and planned hospital activity has been carried out and the number of beds required in the new children's hospital at the St James's Hospital campus is being finalised as part of this process. A significant proportion of the preparatory work that was done for the project on its previous site can be transferred to the new site.
Work on developing a detailed timeline is continuing, which will reflect the urgency and priority of the project and also its scale and complexity. However, at this stage, the Board is confident that construction can begin in Spring 2015 with the transition of services to the new hospital to commence at the end of 2018.
