Mar/Apr 2011
The Proposed New National Children’s Hospital of Ireland The New National Children’s Hospital, which is due to open in 2016, will be formed from the merger of Crumlin, Temple Street and Tallaght Children’s hospitals. The new 16 storey National Hospital will be built on the site of the Mater Hospital in Dublin. As a voluntary organisation committed to representing the people we serve, it is our aim to maintain an ongoing dialogue with the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board during the planning and building phases of the new hospital. In December 2010, the CFAI drafted a policy paper to address the concerns and specific considerations of the CF community relating to the management of paediatric CF in the new hospital. Provision of adequate parking and access facilities for families as well as comfortable accommodation for patients and family members are particular concerns. The development of designated in-patient and out-patient facilities are also of paramount importance to reduce the risk of cross-infection for children with CF. In An artist’s impression of the proposed new National addition to suitable facilities and equipment, the Children’s Hospital. staffing levels should reflect the multidisciplinary care requirements of our members. The CFAI subsequently met with representatives from the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board to discuss the points raised in our submission. The establishment of a new tertiary paediatric hospital provides an excellent opportunity to develop the dedicated facilities for which the CF community has long waited. By addressing our concerns with the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board at the early stages of hospital planning, we are fostering an open communication dialogue that will help advance paediatric CF care in Ireland, serving to improve the lives of our children. There is currently a review of the proposed location of the hospital being undertaken by the new government.
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