HEALTH MINISTER LEO Varadkar is playing down fresh concerns being raised by the Jack and Jill Foundation over the location of the new National Children’s Hospital at the St James’s site in Dublin 8.

The charity placed the text of an anonymous letter, said to be from a consultant at St James’s, on its website yesterday.

It says many staff members at the hospital have “serious concerns” over development of the project at the Dublin 8 campus.

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Speaking to Newstalk earlier today, Jack and Jill CEO Jonathan Irwin said the letter showed there were  ”horrifying things that are under the carpet”.

It’s the third such ‘whistleblowing’ document revealed by the charity — two others came to light last month. Irwin and other groups have been critical of the selection of the inner-city location as the site for the hospital, with particular concerns being raised about accessibility and parking.

Speaking this morning, Health Minister Leo Varadkar insisted there was ”absolutely nothing” new in any of the three letters to date.

And he appealed to anyone at the hospital with concerns to raise them directly with him.

“Certainly if anyone wants to come forward and speak to me confidentially I’d be happy to do so,” Vardakar said.

“They need no concerns about that.

“But also the decision is made.  The decision was made two years ago that the new Children’s Hospital would be on the St James’s campus, and the satellite centres in Blanchardstown and in Tallaght.”

Read: “What’s the fuss about?”: Children’s Hospital architect says project won’t be a problem

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