The Children’s Health Bill 2018, which provides for the establishment of a single statutory entity, Children’s Health Ireland, to provide paediatric services and take over responsibility for the services currently provided by the existing three Dublin children’s hospitals, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, and the paediatric services at Tallaght University Hospital, has been passed by the Oireachtas.(signed into law- will check prior to publication)
In addition to providing secondary and tertiary paediatric healthcare services, the new entity will also be the lead centre for paediatric education, training, research and innovation in Ireland. It will also be the centre of a national clinical network for paediatric services.
Health Minister, Simon Harris said, “The establishment of this new body will bring together staff and services from the three existing children’s hospitals into a single organisation in advance of the opening of the paediatric outpatients and urgent care centres at Connolly Hospital in 2019 and at Tallaght University Hospital in 2020 and the new children’s hospital in 2022.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity to transform paediatric services for children in Ireland and will improve the experience and outcomes for children and their families. It is my intention to commence the legislation on a phased basis. The Children’s Hospital Group Board will be the first Board of Children’s Health Ireland when it is established later this year with a view to taking over responsibility for the staff and services of the three children’s hospitals from the beginning of next year.
“As a body corporate established by an Act of the Oireachtas, Children’s Health Ireland will have the powers and functions it needs as the national tertiary paediatric service. It will also have the necessary status to take on a leadership role nationally in relation to paediatric healthcare and as an international player in paediatric research and innovation.”
