New Children's Hospital - A symbol of Ireland's scandalous and shady behavior

Lack of space most likely. They probably did an audit to check how often it arises and the cost benefit of it. RHK being so close probably played a role in the selection of James'. There's not rlly anything like that near the Mater.

Given the scale of NCH, and given that construction costs have gone up by 50/60% in an environment where we are already struggling with labour,

I severely doubt it's the labourers and trades people that were creaming it.

Sure, but to suggest its some grand scheme is foolishness. This was a very competitive tender, and if other contractors could do it cheaper, they would do it cheaper. Labour and trades people aren't creaming it, It's just expensive to hire workers to do the work at the moment. Thats the same in any development area at the moment. Can't be paying people tuppence when they also are having to pay Dublin rents.

I wonder how many of those south Dublin consultants get 24hr buses..

Can't be many 2 billion projects struggling to pay labourers.

This .

Guess what? The NCH billions is only the start.

The rationale for the site was colocation with a Maternity Hospital + a General Hospital.

So 2 more new hospitals need to be built on the site. There's currently no maternity hospital and the general hospital is a mish mash of disjlointed mostly older end of life buildings.

The Board of James Hospital played a blinder here. Went from a situation whereby they were in danger of being closed and replaced by a new General Hospital on a green or brownfield site (ala Jervis replaced by Beaumont in the 80s, Adelaide by Tallaght in 90s etc.) to a scenario where they are getting THREE new hospitals.

Everyone is overlooking one of the key aspects of child support in hospital - visits by relatives.

Site could not be better for this aspect. Minutes from Houston and Luas at the door.

In a huge number of cases overnight stays will no longer be required as lab tests can be done on site and procedures can take place on a day case basis.

Yes it's costing a huge amount of money, yes the design should have been simpler. But location is the best there was and frankly the 5+ years of wrangling over the location is a huge contributor to the high cost.

The Mater was originally picked because Bertie Ahern (who used to work there)

Never had a problem getting there or back. Ambulance, taxi bus.

Main navigatable thoroughfare and QBC on the way in from Old Airport Road / Drumcondra Road / Dorset St.

But yes the transfers across the city are going to be very difficult

And I get that it may be the similar if coming across the city to the Mater.. Those journeys need to be clearly defined for emergencies and not having to' turn right here, left there and right again then sharp left' , in the midst of rush hour traffic.

Had a few disastrous delays getting to James' and that was blue lighting in an ambulance with sick patients.

It is going to come back to bite us.

However..

I am sure the hospital and facilities will be beautiful though and will be happy for the staff who have done so much in difficult circumstances over the years, and the children and their families in what will be excellent surroundings.

Have to keep that end in mind here.

I am talking about transporting sick children in all the other posts

But even then what you say is only true if travelling BY TRAIN from the country.

But that is a response I suppose, if you take my posts out of context, yeah.

If you are transporting sick children, the same applies, the Mater is much more difficult to reach for ambulances from almost anywhere other than Clontarf.

Where did you get that figure?

Certainly not from any experience of hospitals, planning or care!

Reasons why you have given me that impression...

Temple St is destined to be a satellite rapid treatment area for NCH. Not the Mater.

You think Clontarf is the only place on the North side of Dublin City or county or rest of the country?

If you think Drumcondra Road / Dorset St leads to Clontarf not much point discussing further.

Decision is made one way or the other.

Going to leave it there.

Where did you get the idea it would be a satellite site for the NCH?

Tallaght and Connolly will be satellite sites.

As for James versus Mater for access, there is no discussion, James is far easier to access. Try getting near the Mater when there is a big event in Croke Park.