Cowen must realise who comes first.

COPING with a sick child is difficult enough for any parent to have to deal with.

But the current uncertainty surrounding services at our main children's hospital is only adding to the tremendous strain that parents are under.

The situation appears to be changing from one day to the next at Our Lady's Hospital in Crumlin.

While the hospital's decision not to close beds and theatres is welcome, parents need a long-term commitment that services won't be scrapped.

The health of our children, our most vulnerable, must be protected at all costs by the Government.

It's shameful that the parents of gravely ill children have been forced to beg and plead to retain these services.

This should be a basic right for every child in this country.

Yesterday a top surgeon at the hospital claimed delays in surgery for patients suffering from scoliosis could lead to further deformities in children.

What kind of Government can allow this to happen to innocent children? Brian Cowen and Co can find EUR90billion to bail out wealthy developers but they can't find the money to keep beds and operating theatres open at our main children's hospital.

It's time they got their priorities right and stopped messing around with the health of our next generation.