Consultant has 'lost confidence' in paediatric services

A senior consultant has raised concerns that the level of paediatric services in Ireland is not adequate.

Orla Franklin, a paediatric cardiologist at Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin, said she has lost confidence in the system.

Her comments follow the recent refusal of planning permission for the new National Children's Hospital on the site of the Mater Hospital in Dublin.

Crumlin Children's Hospital is currently trying to raise €9m in funding for new cardiology and oncology units.

Dr Franklin said sick children cannot be expected to wait for treatment.

"There may well be something fantastic coming - but that's coming for children who aren't thought of yet, who aren't born yet," she said.

"But for… all of us now who've got real children will real sicknesses, real problems - those problems will need to be managed with an existing facility.

"And the problem is that (while) we wait for the NPH (National Paediatric Hospital) I've lost confidence that for people who are children now… that we are delivering a service now that is adequate for them."