Independent Report finds the new children’s hospital will have a transformative impact on Dublin 8

10 Nov 2015

EY Report sets out a roadmap for ‘Harnessing the Potential’ from the new children’s hospital

Dublin, November 10th, 2015; An independent report by EY (Ernst Young), published today, outlines opportunities that would be created for residents and businesses in Dublin 8 (and parts of Dublin 12) as a result of the decision to locate the new children’s hospital (nch) on a campus shared with St. James’s Hospital.

The Report was commissioned by a Community Benefits Oversight Group which was established by the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) and the Children’s Hospital Group (CHG), to ensure that the impact of the €650 million investment could be maximised in the short, medium and long term for the local community. The Oversight Committee is chaired by Gordon Jeyes.

The EY ‘Harnessing the Potential’ report found that there are a wide range of areas in which the local community will benefit. It sets out a series of recommendations which will ensure that the benefits are maximised.  Key findings include:

  • 2,000 construction jobs and 300 jobs in services will be created during the construction phase
  • 3,700 nch employees will join 4,000 St. James’s Hospital employees on the growing medical campus – bringing more employment and expenditure into the area
  • Visitors and patients will also create local demand
  • Education and training supports will be tailored to help people in the area acquire skills that will be in demand from the hospital, and the supporting businesses, once the nch is operational
  • Social clauses in the construction contracts and in procurement for services provide unique opportunities
  • Residents in Dublin 8 (and some areas of Dublin 12) will benefit from a focused approach to create a ‘Healthy Community’

 

Putting in place a programme to ensure that the full benefit of having a world-class hospital in the community is realised is a priority objective for the NPHDB and CHG.

The Community Benefits Oversight Group incorporates all of the relevant stakeholder groups in the community to endure that all opportunities are fully leveraged. Members include; St. James’s Hospital; Dublin City Council; Department of Social Protection; CDETB; HSE; An Garda Síochána; Community groups; Local regeneration boards; and an independent Chairman. The overarching objective of the Oversight Group is to promote active engagement between local community interests and the hospital project so that the community benefits in terms of health, training, career opportunities and local business development.

Research was conducted by EY to identify employment, education and enterprise opportunities that would arise during the design, build, and operational phases of the hospital. A full skills audit of the local community was undertaken to identify education and employment supports that are available or required to assist unemployed people secure employment through the project.  Consideration was also given to how social clauses could be used when construction ends.

Using this extensive research, the Oversight Group has set out a roadmap, structured across the following four pillars, with a series of preliminary recommendations in each:

 

  • Employment and education programmes: Internships, job placements and labour activation programmes will all be used during both the construction and operational phases. These will leverage existing community and state supports but will be tailored to maximise the opportunities from the project. Schools programmes will be rolled out to encourage children to consider medical or support roles from an early age.
  • Enterprise Support: Direct demand for goods – e.g. Cafes and restaurants – potential for spin off companies – procurement support for small business, online knowledge portal.
  • Procurement and use of social clauses: Maximising the potential of social clauses in both the construction phase and in the operational phase.
  • Community and awareness raising: Raising awareness of educational opportunities; driving the message among suppliers, local organisations and the community to ensure that the community is ready for the opportunity with the right skills and the right structures to maximise the potential – proactive programmes to help create a ‘Healthy Community’.

Ardmhéara Bhaile Átha Cliath / Lord Mayor of Dublin Críona Ní Dhálaigh said: “The new children’s hospital will be a significant investment for the children of Ireland, but it is also – as we learned today – a significant opportunity for the people of Dublin. I wish to commend the NPHDB and CHG on their foresight in forming the Community Benefits Oversight Group in order to ensure that Dublin will realise the full benefit from this, the largest health infrastructure investment in the history of the State. This first report, by EY, is a hugely promising demonstration of what can be achieved by this wide cohort of stakeholders. I look forward to supporting the implementation of this plan.”

The Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar T.D., said; ““The new children’s hospital is the biggest investment in a healthcare project in the history of the State. It will bring huge benefits for sick children and teenagers. But I want to ensure that the local community also benefits. I’m glad to see that the Development Board, the CHG, St James’s Hospital and a range of organisations want to ensure the neighbouring communities benefit in terms of employment, education and health. I congratulate the Oversight Group for developing this report. This is a once-in-a-life time opportunity for the Dublin 8 community and it’s right that everyone is working together to ensure that the vision is realised.”

Gordon Jeyes, Chairman of Community Benefits Oversight Group said: “We have looked at best practice across the globe to identify the positive impact that an investment of this size can have on a community. The impact can be transformative.  By bringing all of the community groups together, we will ensure that the people living and working in the surrounding area benefit in a meaningful manner from this project. Through employment, improved access to alternative education opportunities and through health and wellbeing initiatives, the new children’s hospital and the broader health campus can help change lives for generations to come.”

John Pollock, Project Director, NPHDB said: “Creating awareness to the local community about the socio economic benefits of having a world-class hospital in their neighbourhood is an important priority for this project. This potential can be fully realised if it permeates the culture of the development from the earliest opportunity. Our plan is to ensure that the hospital will positively change the lives of people – this is not a short term objective – we are planning for the long-term.”

Eilísh Hardiman, Chief Executive, Children’s Hospital Group said: “We are determined, working in partnership with our community partners and all stakeholders, to ensure that this project has a positive impact on the area for generations to come. Not only will the hospital be the backbone of the new model of care for paediatric services, but the team here will also be in a position to effect positive change in the community by empowering people to be responsible for their health and that of their families.”

Lorcan Birthistle, Chief Executive, St. James’s Hospital said: “Through continued investment in the St. James’s Hospital Campus we are creating further opportunities that will positively impact our neighbours in the local area. Through our existing programmes and our involvement in the Oversight Group we are looking forward to maximising the potential of this investment in the months and years to come.”    

A first step in ensuring that this strategy becomes a reality has already been taken with the appointment of a full-time Community Benefits Champion who will drive the implementation of the recommendations. The identification of future employment opportunities and the skills profile required to fill those roles has commenced. Work is underway with local training providers to respond to the skills gap with existing databases being used as a source to identify potential candidates.  All stakeholders will continue to work in partnership to monitor the types of opportunities and business development needs that might arise to ensure that the potential of this project is harnessed for the community within which it is based.

Copies of the report can be accessed at www.newchildrenshospital.ie

Ends/ 

Media Contacts:

Angie Kinane (087)812 6249 / Sinead McGovern (087)6411725 / Nora Eastwood (087) 175 4149

Notes to editor

The planning application for the new children’s hospital was submitted to An Bord Pleanála in August 2015. A decision is expected from ABP in February 2016.  The planning application can be viewed at http://www.nchplanning.ie/

Background

  • The new children’s hospital on a campus shared with St James’s Hospital is the largest and most significant capital investment project ever undertaken in healthcare in Ireland. Its completion will result in better clinical outcomes, improved survival rates for the sickest children and young people and will significantly enhance the experience of service for children, young people and their families.
  • It will bring together the three existing children’s hospitals; Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin, Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, and the National Children’s Hospital at Tallaght Hospital.
  • As the nexus of an integrated model of paediatric care throughout Ireland, the nch will support paediatric acute services nationally through outreach to ensure children are treated as close to home as possible. Transition of services to the new hospital is expected to commence at the end of 2018.
  • The hospital will be co-located on one campus with St James’s Hospital and in time, tri-located with the Coombe maternity hospital. This tri-location model of service delivery is being undertaken to ensure the best outcomes for our sickest children and young people, for mothers and for infants.
  • It will be an academic health sciences hospital that values world-class research, education and innovation, which in turn will drive excellence in clinical care.
  • The new children’s hospital will be a world-class facility providing secondary paediatric services for the greater Dublin area, and specialist services for the country as a whole.

Key Facts about the building

  • Seven storeys tall at its height with the majority of the building sitting at four storeys
  • 380 single in-patient rooms
  • 42 beds in critical care unit
  • 18 neonatal critical care units