Get it right on children’s hospital

ONE of the advocates of the Mater site for the Children’s Hospital controversy admitted that the physical plant of Our Lady’s Crumlin is not fit for purpose, (despite the heroic work of the staff) — and that the hospital should be closed down ASAP.

Although every day of the week ordinary punters and parents are being asked to subscribe voluntarily for long-term capital expenditure on that Crumlin site. No mention of the 24/7 children’s section of Tallaght Hospital, built within the last decade but to be closed down and replaced by a 12-hour a day, (no over-night beds), first aid or triage facility at a cost of an entirely unnecessary €30m, to serve the entire southside of Dublin — and the southside of the country (Crumlin and Tallaght having been closed down). Correctly, he pointed out: A greenfield site would be unsuitable because it could not involve what he described as the essential element of a co-located adult hospital. And, by implication, a maternity hospital, facilitating the treatment of newly born babies. He also said that difficulty of access to the Mater site was not important.

Try telling that to a frantic parent with a sick, injured or frightened child in the back of a car. Or to an ambulance crew. Is it any wonder that parents are confused and increasingly angry? This project, which absolutely nobody opposes in principle, directly affects the future of our most important “asset” — our children.

The Minister for Health, (and all his colleagues in Cabinet), must ensure that the review of the current proposals is made by independent and objective analysts. An evaluation cannot be made by exactly the same people in the HSE and Department of Health who formulated those proposals or their colleagues in an entirely different time and climate.

If he bequeaths no other legacy, Dr James Reilly can leave his name for countless generations to remember if he gets this right.

Maurice O’Connell

Tralee

Co Kerry