Harney says new site for children’s hospital best option

BUILDING the country’s specialist national children’s hospital on a new site rather than on the grounds of Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Dublin appeared to be the best option, Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney said yesterday.

Erecting a new hospital on the Crumlin site to replace Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children would be disruptive, more expensive and take longer to complete, Ms Harney said, addressing the annual conference of the National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery.

One of the main drivers of the project is Professor Brendan Drumm, a paediatrician at the hospital, who now heads the Health Service Executive (HSE).