Vol. 429 No. 6
302 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health the policy, if any, he has in relation to institutionalising all births in the State regardless of whether some women wish to avail of home births; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
It is the policy of my Department that, on medical grounds, the delivery of babies should take place in consultant staffed maternity units. This policy is in line with the recommendations of the Comhairle na nOspidéal report — Development of Hospital Maternity Services, which examined in detail the objectives of health care in relation to maternity services.
I am aware that a small number of women wish to have their babies at home. In these circumstances, the health boards make every effort to provide the necessary services for a home birth but because of the declining number of health professionals with regular experience in the practise of home delivery, some health boards may find it difficult to provide such a service.
