St James' Hospital location for Children's Hospital is 'wrong, wrong, wrong', says campaigning paediatrician

A massive 50,000 signatures have been collected supporting the location of the new Children's Hospital at the James Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown.

St James' Hospital location for Children's Hospital is 'wrong, wrong, wrong', says campaigning paediatrician

A massive 50,000 signatures have been collected supporting the location of the new Children's Hospital at the James Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, just off the M50.

This is against the backdrop of the announcement that the hospital will in fact be located at St James Hospital in Dublin city centre, with preparatory work to start this summer.

Those who oppose the new location at St James' in Dublin say there is no medical reasoning for it to be built there, and that St James' is already congested.

In a statement, acting Health Minister Leo Varadkar said: "Building a hospital of this size on the St James's campus will inevitably mean disruption but the St James's Board have embraced this project fully.

"Co-location of these two leading hospitals will result in a campus of clinical, educational and research excellence that can attract the best and brightest across all disciplines.

"In the future, the development of a new Coombe Hospital on the campus will bring further benefits, with children and young people, mothers and babies all benefiting from the tri-location of adult, maternity and paediatric services."

However, one of Ireland's leading paediatricians Dr Fin Breatnach said the decision to locate the Children's Hospital at St James' is "madness" and urged more people to sign the petition.

He said: "We have power to change this decision and make the right decision for the kids of this country, not just for this generation but for the next three or four generations.

"This children's hospital is supposed to last for 100 years. It can't.

"It won’t be able to accommodate a maternity hospital on site and as a result of that, babies are going to die.

"This is wrong, wrong, wrong."

more courts articles

St James' Hospital location for Children's Hospital is 'wrong, wrong, wrong', says campaigning paediatrician Ireland's top-paid lawyers: Jailed solicitor Cahir O'Higgins earned €200k from legal aid cases
St James' Hospital location for Children's Hospital is 'wrong, wrong, wrong', says campaigning paediatrician Love Island star Jack Fincham released on bail pending appeal
Invictus Games - Dusseldorf Prince Harry’s legal claim against Sun publisher to begin on Tuesday

More in this section

Average house prices soar upwards by more than €100,000 in five years, says CSO Average house prices soar upwards by more than €100,000 in five years, says CSO
Russian invasion of Ukraine Nearly 80,000 Ukrainian refugees still in Ireland as war anniversary nears
Blue lights on the roof of a Garda Siochana Irish police car Man, 70s, dies in four-vehicle collision in Wexford
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited