Children’s Health Ireland to be fully integrated into HSE

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) is to be fully integrated into the Health Service Executive (HSE) under plans announced by the health minister.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the transition will not impact on day-to-day care.

It comes after a range of concerns were raised around clinical, governance and management issues at CHI.

These include the implantation of unauthorised non-medical grade springs, unnecessary hip operations and problems around in-sourcing.

What I want to ensure is the quality and continuity of care provided to our children and the opening of what will be a transformative children’s hospital

Ms Carroll MacNeill said: “For some months now, I have reflected on the governance structures that make up our health care services, conscious of both the size of our country and the ever-evolving need for health care to be integrated across acute and community settings.

“As we move towards the opening of the National Children’s Hospital Ireland, we need to plan for integrated paediatric healthcare and the policy direction for Children’s Health Ireland.

“The National Children’s Hospital Ireland will be the central hub in the network of paediatric care with links to regional paediatric units, operated overwhelmingly by the HSE. Accordingly, I have decided to integrate CHI into the HSE structure.

“The background of CHI was the integration of three very different paediatric hospitals with a view to moving to a single dedicated specialist paediatric hospital.

“We are very close to that hospital being delivered and operational and it is therefore time to further integrate paediatric care formally into the HSE.”

She added: “What I want to ensure is the quality and continuity of care provided to our children and the opening of what will be a transformative children’s hospital.”