THE DECISION TO deny the Rotunda Hospital planning permission to build a critical care unit for women and infants “will jeopardise the wellbeing of many women and their infant children”, according to the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO).

The Journal reported last week that An Coimisiún Pleanála had overturned a decision by Dublin City Council to allow the €100 million facility. The new building was to include 80 additional hospital rooms and a new operating theatre. 

The commission wrote in its decision that it agreed with objections that the proposal to demolish the existing outpatient building and replace it with a four-storey critical care wing would not protect the architectural design of Parnell Square.

There has been strong backlash against the decision since it was announced. Speaking to The Journal last week, the Minister for Health said she was “deeply disappointed” about it.

Matthew Sadlier, Chair of the IMO’s Consultants’ Committee said today that patients and  healthcare staff who treat them “have been forced to endure inadequate conditions in archaic facilities around the country”.

“This latest decision will perpetuate this dangerous reality for patients of the Rotunda Hospital,” he said.

“The decision of An Coimisiún Pleanála to reject this planned extension is short-sighted and regrettable, and will jeopardise the wellbeing of many women and their infant children.”

He said healthcare infrastructure must be given special status in the governments critical infrastructure plan.

“Our perennial inability to adequately fund and resource our health system has led to a multitude of chronic problems, of which infrastructure is just one. The Government must take action to address the issue of planning in the context of building much needed healthcare infrastructure.”

Meanwhile, Green Party Councillor Janet Horner, who is a Rotunda Hospital board member, described the decision as “bitterly disappointing”.

“The board has fought for the development of the wing to deliver the standard of life-saving care in the dignified environment that women and babies need,” she said.

Horner also called on the Minister for Health to reassess plans to relocate the unit to Blanchardstown hospital.

“The current government plan to relocate the hospital to Blanchardstown is not viable. This unit belongs in the heart of the city serving vulnerable communities

“Plans for a critical care wing must be resubmitted soon and an accelerated process must be put in place so that this infrastructure can be delivered as soon as possible. All parties – planners, the Council, heritage officers etc must work together to ensure that a plan can be brought forward that will allow the hospital to flourish in the heart of the city – where it belongs.”

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One yesterday Tánaiste Simon Harris said he is “beyond disappointed”, and now “angry” over the decision.

“This is about premature babies, it’s about them and their mums, it’s about providing them with infrastructure,” he said.

“We cannot have a situation where there’s clinical risk today. Government will look at all of the options here to get this project back on track,” he said.

He said that just because organisations have a right to object to planning applications, doesn’t meant “they have to”.