CHI at Temple Street: Guide to Children’s Health Ireland in Dublin 1

Anyone who has needed urgent paediatric care in Dublin will recognise the name Temple Street, the acute national children’s hospital within the Children’s Health Ireland network treating tens of thousands of children every year. This guide lays out the practical details—contact information, specialties, governance, and patient policies—so you have a clear, fact-checked picture before you visit.

Founded: 1872 ·
Number of CHI Hospitals: 4 ·
Emergency Department: 24/7 Acute Paediatric Care ·
Key Specialties: Neurosurgery, Neurology, Orthopaedics, ENT, Nephrology ·
Address: Temple Street, Dublin 1, D01 YC67 ·
CEO: Lucy Nugent

Nine key facts about CHI at Temple Street, one pattern: the hospital is both a historic institution and a modern national referral centre, with governance and patient policies clearly defined by public health authorities.

What hospitals are in CHI?

CHI at Temple Street

• CHI at Temple Street is the acute national paediatric teaching hospital providing 24/7 emergency care, outpatient care, and a wide range of specialties (CHI location page).
• It serves as the central hub for paediatric neurosurgery, neurology, orthopaedics, ENT, and nephrology across Ireland (Children’s Health Foundation specialty list).
• The hospital has been providing care since 1872 (Children’s Health Foundation history).

Other CHI hospitals in Ireland

• Children’s Health Ireland operates four hospital sites: Temple Street, Crumlin, Tallaght, and Connolly (CHI official site).
• CHI at Crumlin is Ireland’s largest paediatric hospital, specialising in cardiology, oncology, and orthopaedics (CHI Crumlin page).
• CHI at Tallaght and CHI at Connolly provide local paediatric services and inpatient care (CHI locations overview).

The trade-off: Temple Street remains the acute national referral site, while Crumlin handles complex cardiac and cancer cases. Parents often need to know which hospital to attend based on their child’s condition.

Is Chi Temple Street?

Temple Street Campus Details

• CHI at Temple Street is a major hospital campus within the Children’s Health Ireland group (CHI location page).
• Address: Temple Street, Dublin 1, D01 YC67 (CHI) / D01 XD99 (HSE registration) (CHI address).
• Main switchboard: 01 878 4200; Emergency Department direct line: 01 878 4274 (HSE ED contact).
• Outpatient services run Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 18:00 (CHI outpatient hours).

History and Background of CHI at Temple Street

• Founded in 1872 as one of Ireland’s first dedicated children’s hospitals (Children’s Health Foundation history).
• In 2018, Temple Street became part of the newly formed Children’s Health Ireland network, along with three other hospitals (CHI official site).
• It has served as the national centre for paediatric neurosurgery, nephrology, and ENT for decades (Children’s Health Foundation specialty list).

The catch: while the campus is physically located on Temple Street, its governance and operations are fully integrated into the four-hospital CHI system. Patients are registered under Children’s Health Ireland, not the old Temple Street name.

Is Chi under HSE?

Governance and Funding of Children’s Health Ireland

• CHI is a public hospital group operating under the Health Service Executive (HSE) (HSE hospital listing).
• Funding and governance are managed through the HSE, with CHI reporting to the HSE board (CHI official site).
• The Minister for Health has issued statements on the leadership and structure of CHI as part of national paediatric care reform (Department of Health publications).

Why this matters: Because CHI is publicly funded, access is free for all children ordinarily resident in Ireland, and services are regulated by HIQA standards.

Who is the CEO of children’s health Ireland?

Lucy Nugent, CEO of CHI

• Lucy Nugent is the Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Health Ireland (CHI official site).
• She has led the organisation through its unification and the planning stages of the new national children’s hospital.
• In 2026, she presented CHI’s vision for integrated paediatric care at the Future Health Summit (CHI official site).

CHI Leadership Team

• The executive leadership includes a Chief Clinical Director, Director of Nursing, and Chief Operating Officer (CHI leadership page).
• Day-to-day management of CHI at Temple Street falls under the hospital’s general manager, who reports to the CHI CEO.

The pattern: centralised leadership under a single CEO reflects CHI’s goal of delivering consistent paediatric care across all four sites.

What’s the oldest age for children’s hospital?

Age Policies at CHI at Temple Street

• Generally, children’s hospitals treat patients from 0 to 16 years of age (HSE ED age limit).
• The HSE states the emergency department is for people age 15 and younger (HSE ED age limit).
• Patients can remain in CHI until their 18th birthday if under active care for a chronic condition (CHI patient information).

Staying with Your Teenager in Hospital

• Parents can usually stay with their child, including teenagers up to 17, depending on ward policies (CHI visiting guidelines).
• Some wards may limit parental accommodation due to space, so parents are advised to check with the ward in advance.

The trade-off: while the general age limit is 16, exceptions exist for ongoing care. Always confirm with the specific department to avoid a last-minute transfer to an adult facility.

What is the best hospital in Dublin?

Dublin Hospital Rankings and Reputation

• Dublin has several top-ranked adult hospitals: Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, St. Vincent’s University Hospital, and Beaumont Hospital (Newsweek World’s Best Hospitals 2024).
• For paediatric care, CHI at Temple Street is the leading specialist children’s hospital in Dublin (CHI official site).
• CHI at Crumlin also ranks highly for paediatric cardiology and oncology, making the CHI network the primary system for children’s health.

Strengths of CHI at Temple Street

• National referral centre for paediatric neurosurgery, neurology, and nephrology (Children’s Health Foundation specialty list).
• Only hospital in Ireland offering paediatric epilepsy surgery and joint spinal urology clinics (CHI neurosurgery service).
• 24/7 emergency department with dedicated paediatric emergency consultants.

The implication: for parents with a child in need of specialist paediatric care, CHI at Temple Street is the top choice in Dublin. For general paediatric emergencies, any CHI site can provide care, but Temple Street remains the acute national hub.

Three CHI hospital sites, one key difference: Temple Street is the acute national teaching hospital, while Crumlin handles cardiac and oncology cases. Tallaght and Connolly provide local inpatient care.

Eight patient policy facts, one pattern: the rules are standardised across CHI but can vary by ward, so checking ahead is essential.

Timeline of CHI at Temple Street

Four milestones that shaped the hospital’s journey from a single institution to the heart of Ireland’s paediatric network.

• 1872: Temple Street Hospital begins providing paediatric care (Children’s Health Foundation).
• 2018: Children’s Health Ireland formed, bringing Temple Street, Crumlin, Tallaght, and Connolly under one governance (CHI official site).
• 2020s: CHI at Temple Street remains the acute national paediatric hub while the new national children’s hospital project progresses (CHI updates).
• 2026: CEO Lucy Nugent presents CHI’s vision for integrated paediatric care at the Future Health Summit (CHI official site).

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

• CHI is a public hospital under the HSE (HSE).
• Lucy Nugent is CEO of CHI (CHI).
• Address: Temple Street, Dublin 1, D01 YC67 (CHI).
• ED operates 24/7 (HSE).
• ED is for patients 15 and younger (HSE).
• Outpatient services: Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00 (CHI).

What remains unclear

• Exact completion date and transfer of services to the new national children’s hospital.
• Specific admission age limits for every medical specialty (best to confirm with the hospital).
• Future operational role of the Temple Street campus after the new hospital opens.
• Whether all wards allow parents to stay with 17-year-olds—ward policies vary.

“CHI at Temple Street is an acute national paediatric teaching hospital providing 24/7 emergency care, outpatient care, and a range of specialties.”

— Children’s Health Ireland (official hospital description)

“The emergency department is open 24 hours every day and is for people age 15 and younger.”

— HSE (urgent care guidelines)

“The renal unit in St. Michael’s C Ward is the national paediatric nephrology and transplantation department, providing dialysis and kidney transplant services to children under 16 from all over Ireland.”

— CHI St. Michael’s C Ward (national nephrology unit)

The pattern across every data point is clear: CHI at Temple Street is the acute national paediatric hub, but its future role is tied to the long-delayed new children’s hospital. For parents navigating urgent paediatric care in Dublin today, the decision is straightforward: Temple Street remains the go-to for 24/7 emergency and specialist services. For planned care, knowing the differences between CHI sites can save time and travel. The catch: until the new hospital opens, families will continue to rely on a network that is both historic and in transition. For any parent with a child needing care, the recommendation is to keep CHI at Temple Street as your first contact for urgent paediatric needs, and verify age policies directly with the department.

Frequently asked questions