A state-of-the-art Neonatal unit's been officially opened in Holles St. Hospital.
The Government has invested €6m in the unit, which will cater for some of the sickest babies with the most complex conditions in Ireland.
The Health Minister confirmed that a planning application will be made for the new National Maternity Hospital this year - to be co-located at St. Vincent's Hospital.
Leo Varadkar said that despite plans for the new hospital they couldn't wait and there wa s arequirement for capital investment in hospitals that will be relocating.
“It is money well spent. That is of course always a dilemma,” Mr Varadkar said.
“We’re continuing to invest in hospitals such as Holles street that are going to move, and indeed in Crumlin and Temple street, but
“The nature of obstetrics and gynecology and maternity services and pediatrics you can’t wait years, so in some cases we have taken the decision to go ahead and put capital investment into older hospitals, even though those hospitals will be moving,” he added.
