There is a long-term plan to relocate the National Maternity Hospital on Holles Street to beside St Vincent's University Hospital. This was recommended in the 2008 KPMG Independent Review of Maternity and Gynaecology Services in the Greater Dublin area. Speaking on a topical issue debate today in the Dáil, Deputy Kevin Humphreys said this co-location must be a priority for the Government.

He said: "A building has been identified in Elm Park that is under the control of NAMA with more than enough space for a modern maternity hospital. Experts agree that Dublin's maternity hospitals should be co-located with adult acute services. Following the announcement on the National Children's Hospital, we must focus on providing a modern maternity hospital.

-- Advertisement --

"A building has been identified, and the Department of Health has been in discussions with NAMA. What we now need is a commitment from Minister Reilly to proceed with this move, secure the building, and commit capital funding for the retrofit.

"The National Maternity Hospital has been located on Holles St for over a century, but with nearly 10,000 births there in 2010, it is time we provided a modern building to cope with the population increase.

"The HSE has spent over €16 million on capital investment at Holles St in the last ten years, over €2 million alone in 2011, but it is time we invested for the future in a new building rather than patching one up that was designed for the 19th century. The OBD block in Elm Park has over 19,000 square metres of unfinished floor space available that would meet today's needs."

(CD/GK)