Hospital move paused over ‘independence’ concerns
CABINET has paused plans to move the National Maternity Hospital to the St Vincent’s site due to concerns over the new hospital’s clinical independence.
It’s understood that several ministers asked for more time to consider documents on the new hospital and the deal between the Government and St Vincent’s Holdings, with the issue set to be revisited by Cabinet later this month.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is set to appear before the Oireachtas Health Committee to answer questions over the deal.
The shock decision comes after Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the hospital had been delayed for ‘far too long’ and that he was ‘genuinely satisfied’ safeguards were in place regarding how it operates.
Mr Martin said yesterday: ‘It’s gone on too long. I can’t comprehend the delay since 2013; it’s now 2022. We now have to get into design and building and we know how long that can take.
‘So I’m very, very concerned about what conditions will be like in two or three years’ time, never mind today, in terms of the conditions in Holles Street [the current site of the hospital.’ Mr Martin said there were ‘strong protections’ in place and that ‘perspective and balance’ were needed on the issue.
On Monday night, Dr Peter Boylan, former master of the National Maternity Hospital, urged Mr Martin to halt the deal in a ten-page letter outlining his concerns.
Under a draft agreement being considered by Government, the site for the new hospital will be leased to the State for 299 years from the St Vincent’s Healthcare Group. It comes days after the transfer of the Religious Sisters of Charity’s shareholding in the St Vincent’s Hospital Group to a new group, St Vincent’s Holdings CLG, was completed.
Permission to make the transfer was granted by the Vatican.
In his letter to the Taoiseach, Dr Boylan said that until the conditions set by the Holy See over the transfer are made public, the Government can’t ‘make any commitment or promise that Catholic ethos will not govern St Vincent’s Holdings’. Social Democrats coleader Róisín Shortall yesterday said the hospital deal was ‘murky’, adding that the Health Minister must appear before the Oireachtas committee to address concerns.
‘The least that the Irish public deserve is full transparency and accountability from this Government about such a significant public investment in women’s healthcare,’ she said.
Speaking at a press conference last night, Health Minister Mr Donnelly confirmed that he will publish all the legal documents in relation to the hospital and that he will appear in front of the Health Committee to discuss the deal.
‘The people deserve full transparency’