Retired medic pleads with government to avoid building Childrens' Hospital in Dublin City Centre
A top medic was on the Pat Kenny show on TV3 last night to plead with the An Taoiseach Enda Kenny to reconsider where they intend on placing the new Childrens Hospital in Dublin.
Dr. Fin Breatnach, now retired, having spent his professional life treating Ireland's sickest children, pleaded with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health Simon Harris to reconsider the decision to place the new children's hospital at the St. James's site. It could be built instead alongside the new Rotunda Maternity Hospital at the Connolly Hosptial in Blanchardstown which he describes as the perfect site.
Dr Breatnach stated that the Cabinet was misled into believing that the clinical outcomes for children would be improved if the hospital were built beside the Adult St. James's Hospital, a claim which has been shown to be unfounded. When asked how this could possibly be, Dr. Breatnach agreed that it was most likely medical politics which allowed the interests of the St. James's Adult hospital and Trinity College to dominate. The interests of children were ignored.
The NCH will be the only hospital in the country to provide tertiary care for critically ill children with complex conditions. This hospital, based in Dublin's city centre, will disproportionately disadvantage 9 out of every 10 chlidren in Ireland, who currently live outside the M50.
Dr Breatnach expressed serious fears that both the Adults and Children's hospitals will fail. There is time to change the decision -construction at the St. Jame's site is not due to start for at least 12 months. The retired medic asked that the Taoiseach and Minister for Health have the courage to change the site and build the National Children's Hospital at the 145 acre site of Connolly hospital in Blanchardstown, where it would be delivered sooner and at a saving of €200M.
Dr Breatnach and a number of Connolly for Kids spokespeople presented to the Joint Oireachtas Health Committee last week. A transcript of this public hearing is being sent by the Committee to the Minister for Health and the Department of Health. Minister Harris will attend the Health Committee meeting on November 10th and has been requested to respond then to the concerns raised by Connolly for Kids.
Jimmy Sheehan, the orthopedic surgeon who has developed the Blackrock, Hermitage and Galway Clinics has offered his services free of charge, to oversee the construction of the Children's Hospital on the Connolly site and ensure it is operational within three years.