The UK-based consultants drawing up the design brief for the new national children's hospital are very impressed with the site chosen for the new facility, Minister for Health Mary Harney said yesterday.
The site chosen is at Dublin's Mater Hospital and the other existing children's hospitals in Dublin, at Crumlin and Temple Street, are to be merged into the new facility. However, staff at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin have condemned the Mater site as inaccessible. It also feels the new children's hospital should be co-located with maternity services.
But on a visit to Crumlin hospital yesterday Ms Harney indicated RKW, the UK-based consultants drawing up the design brief for the new hospital, were happy with the Mater site.
Ms Harney had told the board of Crumlin hospital in March she would not hesitate to have the decision to locate the new national children's hospital at the Mater re-examined if RKW concluded the site was inadequate.
But given her comments yesterday it appears RKW feel the site is adequate.
She also indicated that RKW's report would be given to the hospitals concerned today.
"RKW have been brought in. They have huge expertise in this area. Their report will be given to the stakeholders tomorrow. I believe that they are very impressed with the site. That's my understanding," she said.
She added that the controversial decision to site the new hospital at the Mater had also been endorsed by the Government.
It is already known that RKW will recommend the new hospital, with about 450 beds, be backed up by three urgent care centres for children in Dublin. These are to be based at Tallaght, Loughlinstown and Blanchardstown. The one in Tallaght will deal not just with minor injuries but will also provide day surgery and outpatient clinics.
A small group protested outside Crumlin yesterday as Ms Harney arrived, expressing their opposition to the plan to move the hospital to the Mater site.