Refusal of Dublin hospital's new wing 'short-sighted', says medical organisation

In the wake of the decision, the Rotunda Hospital said it would have 'devastating consequences' for women and infants who trust it with their care. File picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

The decision to refuse planning permission for a significant extension to the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin is “short-sighted and regrettable”, the Irish Medical Organisation has said.

In a statement, the chair of its consultants committee, Professor Matthew Sadlier, said An Coimisiún Pleanála’s decision to turn down the planning application to expand the maternity hospital emphasises the need for the Government to designate healthcare as “critical infrastructure”.

“For too long, patients and the healthcare staff who treat them have been forced to endure inadequate conditions in archaic facilities around the country, and this latest decision will perpetuate this dangerous reality for patients of the Rotunda Hospital,” he said.

Last week, An Coimisiún Pleanála refused permission for the €100m wing of the hospital despite it previously receiving the go-ahead from Dublin City Council following a successful objection from a conservation group.

The plans would have seen the development of a new four-storey, critical care wing, providing 80 extra hospital bedrooms as well as a new theatre and connections to the existing entrance and main hospital buildings.

The planning board upheld two appeals against the council’s ruling by the Dublin Civic Trust and an individual, while rejecting the recommendation of its own planning inspector to grant planning permission.

An Coimisiún Pleanála said the new wing would have “clear heritage impacts” and would “encroach upon and further compromise the architectural and historical integrity of Parnell Square”.

'Devastating consequences'

In the wake of the decision, the Rotunda Hospital said it would have “devastating consequences” for women and infants who trust it with their care.

“This decision will not only create clinical risk for the most vulnerable cohort of patients in the health system but may have a national impact in terms of neonatal capacity,” it said.

It added it would carefully consider its options going forward as the future of the project was now uncertain.

Prof. Sadlier agreed that the decision will jeopardise the wellbeing of many women and their infant children as he urged the Government to take action.

“Our perennial inability to adequately fund and resource our health system has led to a multitude of chronic problems, of which infrastructure is just one," he said. 

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"The Government must take action to address the issue of planning in the context of building much-needed healthcare infrastructure.” 

Rotunda Hospital board member, and Green Party councillor, Janet Horner said that the refusal of permission is “bitterly disappointing”.

“Plans for a critical care wing must be resubmitted soon and an accelerated process must be put in place so that this infrastructure can be delivered as soon as possible,” she said.

“All parties — planners, the Council, heritage officers etc, — must work together to ensure that a plan can be brought forward that will allow the hospital to flourish in the heart of the city where it belongs.” 

Last week, the Dublin Civic Trust said it considered the case to be of the "highest rank of public interest, with profound ‘make or break’ consequences for Parnell Square that would provide precedent for the wholesale build-out of the square on all sides".