From this week, Ireland's youngest heart patients will be looked after in a brand new purpose-built state-of-the-art facility in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin.

Currently in Ireland, one in every 100 babies is born with a congenital heart defect. Most of these will need surgery. All children who require cardiac surgery must come to Our Lady's Hospital in Crumlin, some within hours of their birth.

These children, along with their families, can spend anything from days to up to a year in hospital depending on what is wrong with them.

This new facility - the Children's Heart Centre - includes a 25-bed dedicated infant and cardiac unit. Support accommodation and services for the families of these sick children are also available.

The centre cost €4.5 million to build and this was raised via fundraising and private donations.

According to consultant paediatric cardiologist, Dr Orla Franklin, while the level of cardiac care delivered in Ireland is ‘world class', patients and their families ‘have had to endure unacceptably inadequate conditions on wards that were built in the 1950s and 1960s'.

"The moment we bring our patients through the doors on to this stunning new ward will be a very emotional one, not only for the families but for staff also. We cannot express enough our gratitude to every person who helped to raise the funds, every business that submitted donations and every individual who made a contribution to this beautiful facility that reflects the standard of care our patients deserve," Dr Franklin said.

Children will be cared for in the new centre from Novermber 6.