Paediatricians in war of words over hospital site

SIX professors of paediatrics opposed to the selection of the Mater Hospital as the site for a new national children’s hospital have publicly challenged the right of their representative body to say it endorses the project.

In a letter to a newspaper, the six professors question the origins of a press release issued by the Faculty of Paediatrics of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) which they argue does not represent their views.

The statement, issued on October 12 by the faculty, said it “strongly supports the proposed new national paediatric hospital” and it describes the faculty as “the authoritative professional body representing paediatricians in Ireland”.