Harney sparks row over children’s hospital

A BITTER row has broken out between Health Minister Mary Harney and former chief of the National Paediatric Hospital Philip Lynch over the reasons for his resignation.

In a statement described as a “bombshell” to the €650 million plan, the ex-chairman of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) said he could not stay with the project while significant issues remained un-addressed.

Mr Lynch, who left the post on October 5, said funding and planning issues for the new hospital – which will amalgamate the existing children’s hospitals and is controversially due to be built at the Mater hospital by 2015 – were central to his resignation.