Reilly’s ordeal in hospital lift serves as reminder of ‘Phoenix’ name clash

THE naming of the new €1bn national children hospital complex as Phoenix Children’s Hospital Ireland clashes with the name of one of Dublin’s major psychiatric facilities located only a few kilometres away.

The Phoenix Care Centre in Grangegorman in north inner-city Dublin was opened in 2013 and replaced the outdated St Brendan’s psychiatric hospital.

The day the modern psychiatric hospital was officially opened, the thenhealth minister, Dr James Reilly (inset), became stuck in one of its lifts for 20 minutes.

It was announced this week that the new national children’s hospital, which will have two satellite centres, will be known as the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Ireland when it opens in 2022 in the south inner city.

Psychiatrist Dr Margo Wrigley said she was surprised the “Phoenix” name was not remembered in the Department of Health given that Dr Reilly got “trapped in one of its lifts on the occasion of the official opening”.

The name of the new children’s hospital drew controversy, including criticism from a number of doctors in the three existing hospitals which will merge.

They said it was insensitive to parents of deceased children whose organs were retained and incinerated.

The name, however, has been defended by the children’s hospital group. A spokeswoman said it came from a member of staff.

However, a spokesperson for the Phoenix Children’s Hospital in Arizona, in the US, said the clash of names had been raised.

“We are aware of the current naming plan and have expressed our concerns about the unavoidable likelihood of confusion,” the spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the hospital board will have to find around €44m to fund the new car park for the hospital at the St James’s campus.

This is because the cost of the car park is not being funded by the Exchequer.