Madam, – It is disappointing that the focus of this debate on the new children’s hospital continues in its current form. We are told by the Minister and the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board that a wonderfully designed, state-of-the-art building will be achieved. This, of course, is beyond doubt. Following our Celtic Tiger years we have become exceptionally adept at constructing state-of-art buildings.
Here in Tallaght we have wonderfully designed and constructed apartment blocks, houses and hotels but unfortunately the majority of them are empty. It is time we moved past the concept of a “shiny” new building correcting deficits in paediatric hospital care.
When the National Children’s Hospital opened on the Tallaght campus less than 11 years ago, it too was a “state-of-the-art” facility that delivered 24-hour care.This facility will close in 2013 to be replaced by another “state-of-the art” facility which will deliver day care only.
The parents of the southside of the city, Wicklow and Kildare would, I have no doubt, forgo the pleasure of a another “state-of- the art” facility at the cost of €30 million to retain a fully functioning 24-hour hospital service for our children.
It is time the debate moved on from the quality of the building or the site and back to the quality of service provision. – Yours, etc,