Differing views over location of combined Cork paediatric department

CORK politicians have expressed different views regarding the news that a new paediatric department combining both Mercy University Hospital (MUH) and Cork University Hospital (CUH) departments is to be located at CUH from next year.

The migration of services is to take place in April 2024.

A spokesperson for South/South West Hospital Group (SSWHG) told The Echo that the group is working with MUH and CUH “to plan the transfer and consolidation of paediatric services from MUH to CUH”.

“It is intended that the migration of services will take place in April 2024,” said the spokesperson. “Until the date of transfer, paediatric services will continue at MUH.

“This new development will deliver high-quality care for children. 

"The new development will provide much-needed paediatric care consistent with clinical care pathways and the model of care.

“The new paediatric department development located at CUH, combining both MUH and CUH paediatric departments, will cater for a centralised paediatric service within one location in Cork. In preparation for this transition, an extended paediatric clinical governance structure is now led by a clinical director for the combined city services.”

Independent councillor Ken O’Flynn said: “I urge the HSE and the Government to reconsider this decision and listen to the voices of our community.”

Mr O’Flynn claimed the relocation will ensure families on the northside will face challenges in accessing care.

"Our children’s lives and wellbeing must be prioritised. 

“With all services being relocated to CUH, families from the northside of the city will face significant challenges in accessing the care their children urgently require. The distance and potential delays in reaching CUH place an unnecessary burden on families.”

Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central Colm Burke, however, said it preferable to have all areas of expertise in the one location.

“Surgeries are getting more and more complex; therefore it is good to have the expertise located in one location,” he said.

“That has been proven in relation to cancer care, where we have eight units around the country specifically dealing with cancer care. The focus of having it in one facility is welcome, but I also think that the expertise that would have been built up in the Mercy will obviously be available now in CUH.

“It is important that we have appropriate paediatric services outside of Dublin. 

"We have planning for a new paediatric unit in CUH. We need to deliver on it at the earliest possible stage.

“We also have the major children’s hospital being built now. The number of people that will end up in the National Children’s Hospital as an overall percentage of children will be small in real terms. It is important that we have appropriate paediatric services outside of Dublin.”