Dolphin Review Group Must Meet As a Matter of Urgency – Kelleher

Fianna Fáil’s Health spokesperson Billy Kelleher TD has expressed concern at the latest delay to the construction of the Children’s Hospital.  It comes as figures released to Fianna Fáil reveal that over 2500 children were on hospital waiting lists last year.

“The Minister’s has rightly put a 56 day deadline for the Dolphin Review Group to report to him.   However, he today revealed that his stopwatch doesn’t start until the first meeting of the Group takes place.  He told RTÉ’s News at One that the first meeting will only take place “in the next couple of weeks.”

“It is now almost a month since An Bord Pleanala’s decision.  This represents the latest delay by the Government in proceeding with the project.

“It is urgent that the Group meets as soon as possible, and that the Minister’s stopwatch starts.  If there are diary issues for the Group during the week, then why not meet on a Saturday or Sunday?  Every day that passes without action on this Hospital prolongs the suffering of children.”

His call came in the wake of figures released to Fianna Fáil which showed that last year over 2500 children were on waiting lists for elective and day cases treatments.  Almost half of these children were waiting more than 6 months for treatment.

“These are more than just numbers.  Each represents a child in need of treatment who is not receiving it. It is urgent that the Group meets as soon as possible to get the Children’s Hospital moving again.”