There are occasions when cherishing diversity within society is a more appropriate response by Government than the single-minded pursuit of value-for-money and one-dimensional solutions. This is particularly so in the area of religion and ethics. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Tánaiste Mary Harney should pay close attention when Protestant church leaders ask that the new national children's hospital be developed on two sites, at Tallaght and the Mater, with a single governance arrangement.
There has been frustration and disappointment at Tallaght hospital in recent years over a perceived neglect by Government in terms of development and funding. Originally established to replace three Protestantcontrolled hospitals, the number of beds planned by the Department of Health never materialised. The hospital was never officially opened. And board members worry that its status and services are now being quietly downgraded. With its special charter, enshrined in law, which guarantees primacy of the doctor/patient relationship and reflects the particular ethos cherished by Protestant churches, Tallaght has stood apart. It is important that its special identity should be respected.
Earlier this month, the Mater was chosen as the site for a new national children's hospital, by a group drawn from the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive. Consultants had recommended the new unit should co-locate with a teaching hospital, have good access to public and private transport, and have space for future expansion. The final decision, however, was based largely on the location of clinical services around the city and the speed with which the hospital could be developed. Controversy surrounded the location of the new hospital in the Taoiseach's constituency. And supporters of the Tallaght development project, where the National Children's Hospital currently operates, were particularly aggrieved.
These days, as distinct from years ago when the charter was negotiated, it is difficult to see how religious ethos might affect the treatment of young, sick children. But, there was a very public campaign to protect the Protestant ethos. It was guaranteed by the government at the time. There is no denying the validity of their argument where the medical treatment and professional advice supplied to adults in the areas of genetics and procreation are considered. The loss of the children's hospital is likely to damage the viability of Tallaght, undermine the Protestant ethos and limit freedom of choice for patients. The Belfast Agreement commits the Government to demonstrate its respect for the different traditions on this island. It should think again.