Cystic Fibrosis Ireland warmly welcomes granting of planning permission for the building of the new National Children’s Hospital at St James’s Hospital in Dublin.

CEO of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, Philip Watt, urged that 'the building of the new National Childrens' Hospital (NCH) should commence as soon as possible. Today is an important step towards our goal of a new children's hospital that will include a state of the art centre for children with CF covering the greater Dublin area'.

He further stated: 
'There is a lot at stake for children with CF arising from today's positive decision'.... 'By 2020 the existing 3 CF children's centres in Dublin - Tallaght, Temple Street and Crumlin Hospitals will be amalgamated and located in the new NCH. This is not before time, as staff, parents and children are struggling to cope with the ageing and ill-resourced facilities in the 3 existing CF hospital centres'. 

Philip Watt further stated that there also needed to bring clarity to the future of clinical genetic services, which are presently centred in Crumlin Children's Hospital. A report by Professor Owen Smyth on the future of clinical genetic services is yet to be published and until then there is lack of clarity about whether such services will be adequately resourced in future and if the centre will be located in the new National Children's Hospital. This impacts on many patients who have a genetic dimension to their disease. 

Philip Watt further stated 'A new regional paediatric centre for all children, including those with CF, is badly needed in Cork University Hospital. This must be addressed in the new Programme for Government' 

Phone 0876370557
pwatt@cfireland.ie