Minister for Health Simon Harris TD was today joined by Alan Brogan to officially open the newly refurbished and extended Emergency Department at Temple Street Children’s University Hospital.

The works, which were funded by the HSE and a generous donation from Danielle Ryan and the Cathal Ryan Trust, have meant that a second two-bay Rapid Assessment and Treatment Unit, two extra single treatment rooms and a new reception and waiting area are available at Temple Street for sick children and families.

Temple Street saw almost 50,000 children in its Emergency Department in 2015 and the new facilities have been designed to improve the patient experience by increasing the available space, adding further isolation rooms for treatment and providing more emergency beds.

Speaking at the event, Minister Harris said “The staff in Temple Street do the people of Ireland proud. Their commitment to delivering the best care for children is well recognised and the level of engagement with other children’s services, in particular with the National Children’s Hospital in Tallaght and Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin ensures that young people get the very best of our health service. I would like to commend the staff on their continuing professionalism and their uninterrupted service during the phased refurbishment of the Emergency Department.

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I was very pleased to see the larger, brighter and more open waiting area and new reception area, which will be a more welcoming and comfortable atmosphere for children, their families and the staff. The more comfortable space for overnight patients with reclining chairs for their parents to sleep in is particularly welcome. I have heard many times from families just how much of a difference that little bit of comfort makes and I’m very glad that we can provide that for them.  

Delivering world-class healthcare for our children now and in the future is an absolute priority for me, and for Government.  The delivery of the new children’s hospital is a landmark capital project of unprecedented scale and complexity, and I was delighted recently to mark the occasion of the commencement of the first phase of construction.   I know that there is a major body of work required to facilitate the opening not only of the new hospital but of the new satellite centres at Blanchardstown and Tallaght in 2018 and I am confident that working together, we can achieve the very best clinical outcomes for our children.”

“If you would like to contribute either personally or on a corporate basis please visit the Temple Street Children’s Charity then visit here”