National Children’s Hospital decision adds to Tallaght uncertainty – Crowe
Dublin South West TD, Seán Crowe, has said the government’s decision to locate the National Children’s Hospital at St James’ Hospital is a major set-back for Tallaght and has left huge uncertainty around the future of Tallaght and Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin.
Crowe, who is a member of the Tallaght Hospital Action Group, said there is a complete lack of any transparency in the St. James’ decision and that other applicants were at a loss as to why their preferred sites had been overlooked when it came to the actual location for the purpose built new hospital.
“The decision to locate the new National Children’s Hospital at St. James’ Hospital will be a major set-back to Tallaght and Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin.
“The location at Tallaght Hospital seems to have been dismissed out of hand at a very early stage and for no obvious reason.
“It seemed to me that Tallaght Hospital fulfilled all the terms of reference for the so called Dolphin review for the new Children’s Hospital. These included; accessibility, cost and value for money, availability of land, future expansion prospects, a short time frame for construction and no obvious future planning difficulties.
“The lack of any transparency surrounding the actual decision raises huge questions about the process and how a decision was finally arrived at by Minister Reilly and his Cabinet colleagues.
“Additionally, the proposed move of Coombe Maternity Hospital to Tallaght is in doubt as confirmed to me today by the minister.
“There is also huge uncertainty around Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin. Will Crumlin Hospital, where so much public investment has been made in recent years, now be sold off to a private health interests?”