New plans could see Dublin’s three maternity hospitals relocated

Three Dublin maternity hospitals are set to be relocated following a review of services.  According to plans due to be published today, the Rotunda hospital will be relocated to Blanchardstown, Holles Street will move to St Vincent's, and the Coombe will move to St James' Hospital. The plan is part of a Department of Health effort to resolve the chronic lack of space on the capital's maternity wards. According to a report in the Irish Examiner, two of the hospitals would be bi-located, with facilities at Connolly hospital in Blanchardstown and St Vincent's hospital, while the Coombe would be tri-located with St James hospital and the National Children's Hospital. While no time frame for the move has been announced, it is understood that there are plans to build three new hospitals, replacing the current buildings, which the General Secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation recently deemed "archaic".