New National Maternity Hospital to open in 2021

The new National Maternity Hospital is to go ahead nearly 20 years after the proposal was first put forward.

Minister for Health Simon Harris announced last night that an agreement around governance had been reached between the National Maternity Hospital at Holles Street and St Vincent’s Hospital Group

The facility had been delayed because of a dispute over the control of the new hospital if it moved from its location in Dublin city to the St Vincent’s Hospital site.

Mr Harris said a planning application for the facility will go into Bord Pleanála very early next year and that soil would be turned in 2018.

He predicted an opening date of 2021. The projected cost of the project is €150m.

“I think we owe it to the women of this country to deliver this project,” Mr Harris said last night.

Mr Harris also said that 2016 will be a “landmark year for the development of maternity services in this country.”

A great day for women in Ireland. Delighted to announce building of new National Maternity Hospital at St Vincent’s, Elm Park. pic.twitter.com/wbsLXmxjyv

— Enda Kenny (@EndaKennyTD) November 24, 2016

The board and managers of the National Maternity Hospital and St Vincent’s Hospital Group, governed by Religious Sisters of Charity, had encountered a standoff over control of the future hospital. Both hospitals have now agreed to an arrangement which will see the establishment of a new company — The National Maternity Hospital at Elm Park.

The board of the new company will be made up of nine directors, four nominated by St Vincent’s, four by the National Maternity Hospital (including the master) and one will be an international expert in obstetrics and gynaecology.

Rhona Mahony, master of the National Maternity Hospital, welcomed the announcement.

“This is going to be a game-changer in the treatment of women and infants and it is a fantastic day for Ireland,” said Dr Mahony.

When asked if clinical independence could be guaranteed with St Vincent’s Hospital Group governed by Religious Sisters of Charity, she said it could.

“We will continue to practice and deliver all the care that we currently give in our hospital right now and into the future without any distinction,” she said.

“I’m very satisfied that the governance set up here will allow that so women need have no fear that services will be in any way curtailed.”