Business case for ICT system at the New Children’s Hospital now being developed

The nature of the ICT system for the New Children’s Hospital was raised at a series of Hospital Group Board meetings last year. The minutes of these meetings were seen by the <em><strong>Medical Independent (MI)</strong></em> following a Freedom of Information request.

Two different options on how to deliver the ICT system for the new hospital were discussed at the November meeting. At the following December meeting, it was mentioned that the hospital Board CEO and the ICT Programme Manager had met with the HSE “and it was agreed that responsibility for the development of the business case for ICT rests with the CHGB, and that delivery and funding of the ICT requirements rests with the HSE.”

A hospital spokesperson told <em><strong>MI</strong></em> that the discussions regarding the ICT should not have any negative impact on the projected timetable for the new hospital.

“The New Children’s Hospital is being planned as a digital hospital, with ICT capability to support it to function as a hospital providing national clinical specialties, as well as to operate efficiently,” said the spokesperson.

“ICT is also an important factor to the overall experience of the children and young people who use the hospital’s service, as well as their families.

“ICT in healthcare is funded separately through the HSE ICT budget allocation. The Children’s Hospital Group Board is currently developing an ICT business case for this investment.

“The ICT project is not expected, at this point in time, to have any impact on the projected timetable.”