Children's services must remain at Tallaght Hospital - Crowe
Speaking at a protest at Tallaght Hospital today Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe said children’s services must remain at Tallaght Hospital. Deputy Crowe the controversial decision to situate the new National Children’s Hospital at the Mater should not be to the detriment of existing services at Tallaght.
He said, “Last month my Sinn Féin colleagues and I highlighted the difficulties that many parents from Tallaght and surrounding areas will face when they need to bring their children to the Children’s hospital at the Mater. By comparing journey times we found that the fastest we could get there from Tallaght was 54minutes by car. For those relying on public transport it is about half an hour extra travel time. This is a completely unnecessary hardship to inflict on children who may be sick and in pain.
“The controversial decision to situate the new National Children’s Hospital at the Mater should not be to the detriment of existing services at Tallaght. The downgrading of Tallaght hospital will have a devastating effect on the accessibility of basic children’s medical services to southside parents. The 67,221 patients seen at the National Children’s Hospital in Tallaght last year will be forced to trek into the City Centre. And they will be joined there by the thousands of other patients from Crumlin Hospital.
“The Children’s Hospital at Tallaght must remain open and, in fact, existing services should actually be upgraded to cater for the overwhelming demand that is currently there.” ENDS
Note to Editors – Times for journeys:
Tallaght Central councillor Mark Daly travelling by car to the Mater:
54
minutes and 3 seconds.
Tallaght South councillor Cathal King travelling by 77 Bus to City Centre
and
then walking to the Mater: 1 hour, 21 minutes and 46 seconds.
Dublin South West TD Seán Crowe travelling by LUAS to City Centre and then
walking
to the Mater: 1 hour, 32 minutes and 50 seconds.