Statement on Establishment of Review Group

NCHA Statement

The New Children’s Hospital Alliance welcomes tthe announcement by the Minister for Health that the National Paediatric Hospital (NPH) Review Group has been formed. We wish the Review Group wisdom in the exciting task of advising the Minister regarding the development of the NPH.
Serving the children of Ireland, excellence in clinical practice will be fuelled by extending  and developing paediatric speciality and sub-specialty  expertise within this new hospital.  The hospital must be designed to be responsive to the future needs of children’s healthcare, with space to expand and embrace new technologies throughout  the 21st century. Physical linkage to a  Maternity hospital  and on-site basic, translational and clinical  Research and an academic University presence are essential.

The Government must define and publish its policy regarding the rationalisation of the Dublin adult hospitals and their specialities. Correct planning and design of  our National Paediatric Hospital, which is to be Ireland’s  flagship children’s hospital for the next hundred years, must no longer  be sacrificed  to or compromised by  the deficiencies of existing adult hospitals.

NCHA’s wish for  the National Paediatric Hospital  :-

  • Accessible to the children of the whole country for tertiary care -from the womb to young adulthood.
  •  Accessible to the children of the Greater Dublin Area also for emergency and secondary care.
  •  With a maternity hospital on a campus which will develop to be a  truly 21st century University Medical Centre/ Academic Health Sciences Centre  -Yes ;  squashed in with an existing adult hospital -No.

NCHA looks forward to dialogue with the Review Group.
Ends.