National Children’s Hospital Ireland (NCHI) – May 2026 Update

May saw continued progress at the National Children’s Hospital Ireland (NCHI), as Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) advanced key commissioning and readiness activities.

Since December 2025, CHI has been working in Early Access areas on Levels 6, 0 and Lower Ground. Across these spaces, large volumes of equipment have now been installed, including:

• Over 4,600 non-medical items
• More than 3,800 medical devices
• Almost 2,000 ICT assets
• Over 240 laboratory items

Many of these are connected to the hospital’s Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, supporting a fully digital way of working.

This progress has allowed CHI’s ICT teams to begin early EHR testing on Level 6, which is going well. All planned Early Access activity in these areas is now complete, with CHI preparing to move into additional floors, including Levels 1 and 2.

Key Updates in May

This month we saw the substantial completion of the majority of the laboratory facilities on the Lower Ground floor. These modern labs will:

• Provide faster test results
• Offer a wider range of diagnostic testing
• Improve efficiency through digital workflows

The laboratories will connect directly with the EHR system, helping staff access results quickly and support patient care.

Another important development was the introduction of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs). These driverless vehicles will transport supplies such as medicines, meals, linen and waste across the hospital.

• A fleet of 20 AGVs will operate daily
• They can run for up to 20 hours per day
• They include built-in safety features to stop automatically if needed

By automating these tasks, AGVs will reduce manual handling and free up staff to focus more on patient care.

Work also continued on safety planning, including the placement of fire escape maps and evacuation signage to support safe and clear evacuation routes throughout the hospital.

Towards the end of May, CHI received partial access to areas on Level 1, including intensive care units and corporate spaces. This allows teams to begin final checks and preparations in these important clinical areas.