The decision of An Coimisiún Pleanála to reject plans for a €100 million extension to the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, is “short-sighted and regrettable”, according to the IMO.
Prof Matthew Sadlier, IMO Vice President and chair of the organisation’s consultants’ committee, added that the decision will “jeopardise the wellbeing” of many women and their infant children.
“The Government has rightly given special status to energy, water and transport in its latest critical infrastructure plan, but it is clear that healthcare infrastructure needs to be added to the list,” he said.
“For too long, patients and the healthcare staff who treat them have been forced to endure inadequate conditions in archaic facilities around the country, and this latest decision will perpetuate this dangerous reality for patients of the Rotunda Hospital.
“Our perennial inability to adequately fund and resource our health system has led to a multitude of chronic problems, of which infrastructure is just one. The Government must take action to address the issue of planning in the context of building much needed healthcare infrastructure.”
Separately in a joint statement released on Friday, the Rotunda Board and Executive Management Team said they were “bitterly disappointed”.
“This decision will have devastating consequences for the women and infants who trust us with their care,” according to the statement.
“Most affected will be the tiny fragile premature infants who require prolonged, safe intensive care which should be provided in a modern 21st century neonatal intensive care unit. As Ireland’s busiest maternity hospital providing care to a quarter of the state’s premature and critically ill babies it is essential that we address the infrastructural deficits and spatial constraints in a timely fashion.
“This decision will not only create clinical risk for the most vulnerable cohort of patients in the health system but may have a national impact in terms of neonatal capacity.”
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