Debate contribution: Maternity and Children’s Hospital: Delays

Debate contribution by Miss Órlaithí Flynn on 26 November 2024.

MLA

Miss Órlaithí Flynn

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

26 November 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Maternity and Children’s Hospital: Delays

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4677395

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I support the motion. Like many others in the Chamber, I share the frustration and the genuine concerns about the delays that have held back this vital project. Of course, accountability of public money and the massive overspend is very important and something that we need to follow up on. I agree with the suggestions made earlier, by the proposer of the motion and the Alliance Party, about getting some of the witnesses back to the Health Committee to follow up on the details of what has gone wrong and when the maternity hospital can open. While we must address those challenges, I want to take a moment to reflect on what this hospital represents and the incredible potential that it holds. It is not just about constructing new buildings for the maternity and children's hospitals or catching up on missed deadlines for the opening date, although that is very important. The longer-term vision and strategy for those buildings is for the hospital to have the power to transform how we care for families, mothers and children across the North in a place that truly embodies care, community and compassion. When the maternity and the children's hospitals are completed, it will not just be new facilities; it will be a lifeline for so many new mothers, new babies, very sick young children and their families. Just imagine a young child, who is feeling scared and anxious about their treatment, walking into a new space that feels welcoming and not clinical. Bright play areas, colourful designs and thoughtful touches will transform what can be a very intimidating experience into something much less daunting. For the parents and families, spaces where they can have a rest, have some time out and feel supported will make all the difference during some of the most challenging times in their lives. It also made me think about the Health Committee's recent joint visit to Dublin. Again, we have the example of the disaster around the new children's hospital in Dublin. The overspend is going into billions of euros. When we went to visit the hospital, which is nearing completion and should be opening in June, you could see how they have transformed the hospital for the wee sick kids and their families. You can just see the difference that that space will make to those kids when they are getting their treatments and operations. Hopefully, we will be in that position when our new children's hospital opens. I know that the focus of today's motion is on the overspend and the delays, which are very important, but we need to focus on the fact that, when both hospitals are open and operational, we will be able to share the specialities and the clinical expertise so that very sick children across the country can be treated in the children's hospitals, North and South. The maternity and children's hospitals will offer more than just physical care for the mothers, babies and kids: it is also about emotional care and the mental health of our children and their families, which will be as much of a priority as their physical health. The design of the hospital, with its, hopefully, inviting atmosphere and play areas, will help our children feel at ease and allow them to focus on healing and being kids, even in the very tough times that they are going through. What better place to host such a facility than in the constituency of West Belfast that I represent. It is a community built on strength and solidarity. The people of West Belfast take immense pride in their ability to support and care for others, and hosting this hospital is no exception. Families coming from across the North will not only find world-class care but a community ready to make them feel at home. We need to move forward with urgency — following up, of course, on the accountability and delays — and with determination to make the vision of the hospitals a reality and see the completion and the doors opened to our families and children.

680 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:35 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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