Rotunda master disappointed with hospital decision
The master of the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin has expressed his disappointment at the decision to build the new National Children's Hospital at St James Hospital.
Yesterday, Health Minister James Reilly confirmed that the south Dublin site will be the used for the new facility.
Dr Sam Coulter-Smith, who was in favour of the Mater Hospital site, said that there will be no physical link between the adult hospital at St James and the new Children's Hospital.
He said that there will be no maternity services either, meaning plans for a tri-located hospital will not be realised.
"Although they've left the door open for a maternity service to be provided on the site, at some point in the future, it's not included in the plan," he said.
"So therefor, by the time this institution opens, we're not going to have a truly tri-located health facility. And this of course was what the grand plan was."
