A lobby group of parents and doctors reiterated its demand last night for a time-frame from the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, for the complete redevelopment of Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin.
Mr David Fitzgerald of the New Crumlin Hospital Group, speaking at a public meeting in Crumlin, said that despite a commitment from Mr Martin on February 26th that a timetable was being finalised, none has appeared.
He said it was difficult to see why one could not be provided immediately. "There will be no requirement for money for five years after the redevelopment gets under way. There would be no need for cash until 2007, so we do not see any reason why this plan cannot kick in. If it can't, the sooner we are told the better."
The group is seeking the redevelopment by 2009.
An independent audit of the hospital, carried out by an international expert in health service provision, was published in February. Dr Robbie Pollock's report found facilities at Crumlin so seriously outdated that it was unable to provide "currently acceptable standards of care".
Earlier this month, facilities were described by Prof Owen Smith, a consultant haematologist at the hospital, as "of east European standard or less".
A spokesman for the Department of Health said a project team for the redevelopment of Crumlin was in place "preparing a brief" for the hospital's redevelopment.
"A time-frame will come from them," he said.
