In a joint statement on the new children’s hospital project, Ireland’s existing children’s hospitals today (24th September 2014) welcomed the appointment of BDP, renowned children’s hospital architects.
The new children’s hospital will see Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin, Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, and the National Children’s Hospital at Tallaght Hospital come together under one roof in an exemplary facility on a campus shared with St. James’s Hospital, Dublin 8.
The CEOs of the three children’s hospitals conveyed their confidence in the newly appointed firm BDP as the lead architects for the project, with the support of Dublin based O’Connell Mahon Architects.
On behalf of the three hospitals, the CEOs also reaffirmed their support for the prioritisation of clinical healthcare planning in the decision to locate the new children’s hospital on a campus shared with St. James’s Hospital. Co-location of the children’s hospital with an adult teaching hospital will result in better health outcomes for the sickest children, say the hospitals.
Lorcan Birthistle, CEO of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, said, “Today, we reach an important milestone in the new children’s hospital project with the appointment of a team with significant experience in children’s hospital design.”
“We support the decision to locate the new facility at St. James’s Hospital campus, in line with international best practice of co-locating paediatric services with an adult teaching hospital.”
Mona Baker, CEO of Temple Street Children’s University Hospital said, “As the project enters the design phase, we look forward to engaging with the team to inform the design, creating a hospital of which the nation can be proud.
“I have been struck by the expertise of the design team; lead architects BDP display a strong track record in healthcare and also a unique understanding of child-centred design, with Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool and the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton as just two recent examples of their leadership in children’s hospital architecture.
David Slevin, CEO of Tallaght Hospital, including the National Children’s Hospital, said, “Tallaght Hospital is fully in support of the decision to co-locate the new children’s hospital on a campus with St. James’s Hospital, ensuring that children have access to the many specialties and sub-specialties.
“Clinical health planning has rightly taken priority in this decision to co-locate the hospital at St. James’s Hospital campus, which will ultimately ensure better outcomes for children and young people.”
“We also welcome the design team’s independent assessment of the site at St. James’s Hospital and the assurance that the site will comfortably fit the facility, with room for future expansion,” he concluded.
The children, families, and staff of the three children’s hospitals will now begin an engagement process with the design team for the new children’s hospital. This process will inform a children’s hospital that is a modern, therapeutic and supportive environment and will drive excellence in paediatric care.
ENDS
For further information contact:
Lorraine Cronin | Michael Keane
087 7730361 | 086 8244500