I am writing as a very concerned parent regarding the cutbacks in Crumlin.I cannot sit idly by and watch while you take away frontline services from our Children,the most vulnerable in our society. The decision to make cutbacks in Crumlin Children's hospital is ludicrous-it should be the last resort not the first option.Our Lady's hospital in Crumlin is home to many sick and dying children and already it is finding the going tough.All the wards are full to capacity and ICU is constantly full.It is the largest Children's hospital in Ireland housing brand new theatres,new Medical tower and new MRI unit.The wards are old and need to be refurbished but they are still able to hold 25 beds and in turn staff are able to care for 25 children. Only three weeks ago St Joseph's Ward was closed and one operating theatre.The plan is to close a further ward or two during the Summer months and also a further operating theatre.Things are already so bad with cancellations and waiting lists for Surgerys.How much worse can it get Some children have no choice but to attend Our Lady's hospital as it is the only Cardiac paediatric hospital in Ireland. We are looking at children's lives being lost.I keep hearing the same old answers from the HSE -that you are going to look after the sickest children,where does that leave the just sick children I'll tell you where- it will mean that children who aren't sick enough will be left until they also become the sickest children.Unfortunately this plan will not work for our children as they become very sick,very fast and without proper care and attention they will die.This is the reality unfortunately and you need to be aware of this fact.Also the sickest children need intensive care beds -in Ireland there aren't that many.The Cardiac ICU in Crumlin alone has only 8 beds,2 of which are isolation beds to prevent the spread of MRSA,C-Diff etc.The General ICU is mixed with HDU (High Depandancy Unit) so is already full to capacity at all times. If a child dies it will be too late for him/her and too late for his/her family.There will be nothing anyone can do to in that situation so you need to prevent that situation.It has happened before and in this day and age cannot be allowed to happen again. The Ryan report highlights the despicable abuse of children, that was allowed to happen because adults did nothing. It is the duty of all adults to speak out on behalf of the vulnerable. I am speaking out now, and will continue to do so, until I see some improvement in the attitude and the actions of the Minister, the HSE and Hospital Management, and can have confidence that my children, and all children, will receive the medical treatment that they deserve. The Government have spent 40 million on a prison in recent times only its not going ahead now,also 5 million has been spent on the appointing of planning consultants and executives for the new "virtual" children's hospital which won't be ready until 2015 if ever-that is too late for most sick kids-some don't even have 6 minute,let alone 6 years.4 million has been spent on a Nature reserve in Wicklow and just the other week,the same week the closures were announced there was 60million spent on a new bridge.Also there is 900k spent on Art for hospitals- What are the Government thinking Putting Criminals and Wild Animals before our Sick and Dying babies and children.All Crumlin needs is 10 million-in the Grand scheme of things its really not that much,is it After all the children are OUR FUTURE,aren't they So,I am pleading with you to reverse the closure of the wards and operating theatres and give Crumlin the Financial support it needs to continue to operate as a Centre Of Excellence.We are an ordinary group of parents who are campaigning against these cutbacks and we will not back down-we stand united. Yours Sincerely