THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE of Tallaght Hospital Eilís Hardiman has been given the top job in the group that will integrate three children’s hospitals ahead of the move to the new national children’s hospital at St. James’s in Dublin.

Hardiman was today named as as CEO of the Children’s Hospital Group which oversees Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin, Temple Street Children’s Hospital and the paediatric service at Tallaght Hospital.

Hardiman is a qualified nurse and has over 20 years in the healthcare profession including  two-and-a-half years as CEO of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, the primary authority in charge of the design and building of the new children’s hospital.

She also previously worked for 19 years at in St. James’s Hospital where she held the post of director of nursing.

Hardiman’s appointment to the role in the Children’s Hospital Group follows on from the appointment of Dr. Jim Browne as chair of the group in April this year and a further nine further appointments in August.

National Children’s Hospital

Planning permission for the new National Children’s Hospital is hoped to be secured by the end of next year with the end of 2017 pencilled in for the completion of the facility at St. James’s.

The Department of Health says that the tendering process to choose the design team is underway with a new office also established to carry out preparatory work at the St. James’s Hospital site.

Hardiman’s appointment was made this afternoon at Government buildings with Health Minister James Reilly’s  saying her appointment represents ‘another important milestone’ in achieving the best possible healthcare for children. The Minster outlined the importance of the role Hardiman will take on:

The role of CEO of the Children’s Hospital Group is critically important in driving forward the integration of the three hospitals, and the project as a whole. This appointment is another milestone for paediatric acute services in Ireland and I am delighted that a person of the calibre, ability and experience of Eilísh Hardiman is taking up the role.

The Department of Health said that Hardiman’s selection was made following  an open recruitment process led by the Public Appointments Service.

Read: Children’s Hospital to be built on St James’s site by end of 2017, early 2018 >

Read: Crumlin Hospital says it mistakenly told 18 families their children may have been infected >