Church of Ireland General Synod: The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Most Rev John Neill, has said he is "very concerned" about what is happening at Tallaght hospital, where he felt services were being eroded and promises made on its opening in 1998 were not being kept.
"Before it opened far more beds were promised than were delivered," he said.
The archbishop, who is president of the hospital, said he had discussed these concerns with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste and, informally, with the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin.
Speaking during a press conference at the Church of Ireland General Synod in Armagh yesterday, he explained how Tallaght hospital had originated with the amalgamation of the three Protestant Dublin hospitals: the Adelaide, the Meath, and the National Children's Hospital at Harcourt Street.
"Our ethos is very dear to us," he said. "It is inclusive and patient-centred, with no ethics committee imposing standards."
However, he could see this "being eroded" with the removal of many specialities, including paediatric medicine, from Tallaght.
It would be "very serious" for Tallaght hospital if its paediatric service was removed.
He felt this might happen if the new children's hospital proposed by the syndicate headed by Noel Smyth was to be built nearby.
He said he did not want Tallaght "to become a mere A&E hospital".
As it was, the situation at Tallaght's A&E unit was "extremely serious" as there had been no increase in bed numbers last year unlike other hospitals.
He did not see anything sectarian in what was being allowed to happen at Tallaght. He saw the problem as one of "an unfortunate failure to recognise a different tradition".
In his presidential address to the General Synod on Tuesday, the Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop Robin Eames, spoke of "serious concerns" for "the continuation of the particular inclusive medical ethos long cherished by this church and other Protestant churches" at Tallaght hospital.
It also "provided a significant place for this ethos in the delivery of paediatric services".
He referred in particular to a lecture by Prof Brendan Drumm, chief executive of the Health Service Executive (HSE), on March 21st where he spoke of the need to plan for functional co-operation North and South where possible.
Asked at yesterday's press conference about speculation that he could be elected Church of Ireland Primate of All Ireland to succeed Archbishop Eames - he retires on December 31st - Archbishop Neill refused to comment.
He said he was "not prepared to say anything" prior to that election in January.
