Minister Harris introduces a new Bill for paediatric services
NEW legislation to significantly enhance paediatric services for all the children of Ireland was introduced in the Dáil by Health Minister Simon Harris.
He said he establishment of the new children’s hospital provides a unique opportunity to introduce a new model of care for all paediatric services.
‘A network of care will be established throughout the country, reaching every community in Ireland through regional centres in Cork, Limerick and Galway,’ he said.
‘Under this new model, service providers will work together to ensure the standard of care will be the same whether it will be in the new children’s hospital, a regional unit or in the two paediatric outpatient and urgent care centres in Connolly or Tallaght.’
Paediatric services in Dublin are currently provided by three separate hospitals, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin, Temple Street Children’s University Hospital and the paediatric service at Tallaght, he said.
‘Currently, the three children’s hospitals are voluntary hospitals with their own boards and the integration and oversight of services of the three hospitals is managed by the children’s hospital group board, an administrative board.
‘However, providing services under the same roof in the new facilities but not under the same governance structure would clearly not be feasible. The staff and services of the existing hospitals need to come together under one single governance and management structure, hence this important legislation.’
Operational and cultural integration of three organisations is complex and challenging and needs to happen well in advance of the transition to new facilities, he said.
‘Creating this new entity with single governance and management as early as possible is essential to support this complex integration programme,’ he added.