At the June meeting of the CWIUH Board of Guardians and Directors, concerns were voiced over the planned tri-location of the hospital alongside the planned new National Children’s Hospital on the St James’s Hospital (SJH) Dublin site.
The main concern of one unnamed member was that “a maternity hospital may not be developed in tandem with the National Children’s Hospital”.
That is according to minutes seen by the <strong><em>Medical Independent </em></strong>(<strong><em>MI</em></strong>) following a Freedom of Information request.
“In summary, the members welcomed the development of the National Children’s Hospital and the tri-location of the CWIUH on the site of St James’s at the earliest opportunity.”
However, the minutes also noted that the board planned to request funding for “preliminary planning” in order to “accelerate the process of tri-locating on the SJH campus”.
“It was also agreed that the hospital must do everything it can to ensure the optimal care of women and babies here at the CWIUH during this period.”
A spokesperson for CWIUH did not provide details to <strong><em>MI</em></strong> on whether the request for funding had been successful or how much was requested.
“Discussions are ongoing on the tri-location of the CWIUH to the St James’s campus,” the Coombe spokesperson told <strong><em>MI</em></strong>.
Separately, a spokesperson for the Children’s Hospital Group said no decision has yet been made regarding a name for the new National Children’s Hospital.
“Staff, young people and families of current users of the services have all played a role in helping to determine the future name for paediatric services in Ireland,” the spokesperson told <strong><em>MI</em></strong>.
“As this process still is ongoing, we cannot provide any further detail at this time.”
Earlier this month, Minister for Health Simon Harris rejected calls from campaigners for the site of the planned new National Children’s Hospital to be moved from St James’s Hospital to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown.
