Vol. 474 No. 3
106 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Health if all hospitals with maternity units provide an epidural service on demand; if not, the hospitals which do provide the service; the type of service they provide; the hospitals which do not provide this service; and the proposals, if any, he has to have a full service available nationwide. [2970/97]
Limerick East): While the detailed service arrangements are a matter for individual health boards and hospitals, it is my view that the provision of an epidural service to patients by trained hospital staff should be an integral part of the service provided by maternity units.
My Department does not routinely collect the information requested by the Deputy. Accordingly I am asking the chief executive officer of each health board and the management of the maternity hospitals to forward the information requested directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
