Clear policy needed for new children’s hospital

The rejection of the new children’s hospital in Dublin by An Bord Pleanala could be a blessing in disguise, as it can now be looked at without the vested interests of the Dublin consultants, and the “Dublin at all costs” brigade.

This hospital must not be built for the convenience of consultants or political expediency, but for the convenience of sick children and their parents. The recently reported glut in the Dublin Children’s Hospital is due to sending children from Munster and Connacht to Dublin in the mistaken belief that they can give a better service than they would get provincially. However, if we spent €650m between Munster/Connacht and built two small efficient hospitals in the provinces mentioned, then everybody would be beneficially served, rather than building an inefficient white elephant in Dublin.

It was expected that this new Government would display an enlightened approach to these issues and not perpetuate the limited policies of the discredited Fianna Fáil/Greens.