Certain procedures at the National Paediatric Allogeneic Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) and Cellular Therapy Unit at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) are currently unavailable, primarily due to staffing issues. The treatments are highly specialised, as are the staff who are qualified to perform them and as the deputy will be aware, there are challenges in recruiting staff in many specialist healthcare areas.
CHI at Crumlin employs 5 whole-time equivalent (WTE) paediatric haematology consultants, two of whom have allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (bone marrow) expertise.
Two additional consultant staff are currently on extended leave and a locum consultant is due to start in February 2026. There are currently four transplant beds in operation in CHI Crumlin. Once the National Children’s Hospital is open a further two beds will be added to this capacity. It is anticipated that the increased staffing along with the increased bed capacity on opening of the new hospital should see allogeneic HSCT for those children with haematological malignancy who need this treatment recommence in CHI at Crumlin from Q3 2026.
Pending the full restoration of service, a small number of children will access specific types of bone marrow transplant in other centres abroad under the Treatment Abroad Scheme.
I appreciate that travelling to another country for medical treatment is very challenging from parents and families particularly when they are trying to care for a sick child.
CHI coordinates referrals to specialist paediatric transplant centres for patients on an ongoing basis, when it is clinically appropriate for a patient to travel.
Where children are referred abroad for specialist treatment CHI works closely with the HSE's Treatment Abroad Scheme and other organisations, to support families.
