Planning for the €150 million development of a new maternity hospital on the campus of St Vincent’s hospital in Dublin has resumed after being put on hold last May.
However, significant differences remain between St Vincent's on the one hand, and the National Maternity Hospital and the HSE on the other, over the management of the project and the governance of the new facility.
Officials from St Vincent's have resumed attendance at planning meetings for the project following an intervention by Minister for Health Leo Varadkar.
He pleaded with the parties not to let differences on other matters affect the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital from Holles Street.
St Vincent’s and Holles Street have agreed to discussions facilitated by the HSE to resolve outstanding differences, while working groups continue with the practical planning of the development.
The main area of difference relates to whether the new maternity hospital would be merely co-located with St Vincent’s on its existing campus or integrated into this campus.
An overarching governance structure for all relocated services must be agreed before the project can proceed, James Menton, chairman of the St Vincent's Healthcare Group, wrote in a letter last week to HSE national director of acute hospitals Liam Woods.
Mr Menton said there should be one chief executive to whom clinical directors for St Vincent’s and Holles Street would report. The existing post of master of the maternity hospital would be “evolved” into a clinical director role. “It is simply not practical for a practising clinician to also fulfil the role of CEO.”
Mr Menton is also insisting St Vincent’s has management control of the building project so existing hospital facilities are not affected during construction. The licence agreement and protection of the State’s interest must be resolved before a planning application is made.
Dr Rhona Mahony, master of Holles Street, said it would seek whatever solution was best for the delivery of services to patients. The post of master in the maternity hospitals had worked well, she said, and she looked forward to the findings of the forthcoming review of maternity strategy in this respect.
“We’ll support whatever governance structure ensures the best delivery of services to women,” she said.
Mr Varadkar wrote to Mr Menton last month urging St Vincent’s not to let the Holles Street project become entangled in other issues. He highlighted the potential benefits to patients and to St Vincent’s from the move.
The planning application for the project is due to be lodged by the end of this year.
Relations between the St Vincent’s group and the HSE have been tense over a number of issues, including governance and consultants working in its private hospital.
