Sir, – Frank McDonald, Environment Editor, has some aesthetic objections to the planned National Paediatric Hospital. I may have some respect for this opinion, as this is within his area of expertise.
However, in his opinion piece, (December 5th), he gives voice to one of the most absurd, unfounded, and misinformed conspiracy theories which has held back this project for years. This project was developed and approved by no less than three independent expert groups, most recently that convened by the current, Fine Gael, Minister for Health. The earlier groups were convened under the auspices of a Minister for Health who was a member of the Progressive Democrats and a TD for West Dublin, and while a former Professor of Paediatrics at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, was in charge of the HSE. The most recent review group included managers of some of the most renowned children’s hospitals in the world. How this became a “political conspiracy, a northside job” is beyond me.
In contrast, the still vocal opponents of this project embody the worst of the isolated institutional thinking and cross-city medical politics which have held back unified development of paediatrics in Dublin and Ireland for 50 or more years.
Modern best practice dictates that a children’s hospital should be located beside a major adult hospital, which can share expertise, particularly that of cross-appointed specialists in surgical and other disciplines. This project has the support of the majority of those of us who take care of children in Dublin and Ireland. The children of Ireland deserve it. They have been waiting for a long time, and it is time to press ahead. – Yours, etc,