Madam, – It is necessary to correct any public perception that there is overall professional support for the proposal to locate the national children’s hospital on the Mater hospital site. The provenance of the recent press release from the Faculty of Paediatrics supporting location on the Mater hospital site is being contested in the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. This is an internal matter which is being pursued in the college.
The projected Mater hospital site is opposed by many of those with very considerable national and international experience of caring for sick children. The manner in which the project has been advanced has not given any opportunity to those who would advocate the merits of a freestanding children’s hospital to express their views.
There is evidence of overwhelming concern among the public about the practical problems relating to the Mater site. We reaffirm our support for this opposition. – Yours, etc,