Children's hospital will be run by the HSE amid takeover of controversial CHI

The HSE will run the National Children's Hospital with Children's Health Ireland (CHI) set to become part of the HSE by 2027. 

The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill made the announcement today. 

“As we move towards the opening of the National Children’s Hospital Ireland, we need to plan for integrated paediatric healthcare and the policy direction for Children’s Health Ireland. The National Children’s Hospital Ireland will be the central hub in the network of paediatric care with links to regional paediatric units, operated overwhelmingly by the HSE. Accordingly, I have decided to integrate CHI into the HSE structure," she said. 

It's understood that young people and children in the care of CHI will not be impacted during the transition stage and their day-to-day care will not be affected. 

READ NEXT: What is the Mpox virus as HSE confirms cluster of more serious strain detected in Ireland

Changes to current legislation will need to be made meaning it will take a number of years before the integration will be fully implemented. 

The goal is that by 2027, the two separate entities will become one. 

At the moment, CHI has three children's hospitals in Crumlin, Temple Street, and Tallaght. 

The organisation has been under scrutiny in recent months because of a spinal surgeries and scoliosis waiting lists.  

CHI will be responsible for the National Children's Hospital which is due to open next year.

“The background of CHI was the integration of three very different paediatric hospitals with a view to moving to a single dedicated specialist paediatric hospital. We are very close to that hospital being delivered and operational and it is therefore time to further integrate paediatric care formally into the HSE,” Minister MacNeill said.

“What I want to ensure is the quality and continuity of care provided to our children and the opening of what will be a transformative children’s hospital," she added.