Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 4

Written Answers. - Maternity Services.

Monica Barnes

Question:

52 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Health and Children the services, if any, provided by each health board to facilitate home births by mothers; and the plans, if any, he has to ensure that a uniform and fully developed service is provided by each health board area. [14125/98]

Deirdre Clune

Question:

64 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children the services, if any, provided by each health board to facilitate home births by mothers; and the plans, if any, he has to ensure that a uniform and fully developed service is provided by each health board area. [14124/98]

Alan Shatter

Question:

220 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the services, if any, provided by each health board to facilitate home births by mothers; and the plans, if any, he has to ensure that a uniform and fully developed service is provided by each health board. [14276/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 52, 64 and 220 together.

The provision of maternity services generally is the responsibility of the health board. When an application for domiciliary services is received by a health board every effort is made to ensure an appropriate level of service is provided. However, because of the increase in hospital confinements over the past 20 to 25 years, and the consequent unavailability of experienced practitioners in home delivery, health boards are experiencing some difficulties in providing services for home confinements. Where a woman chooses to engage the services of a private midwife, a contribution towards the costs involved may be made by the health board.

The report of the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme Review Group, which issued in April 1997 in conjunction with the Plan for Women's Health, included recommendations in relation to home birth services. The health boards' chief executive officers have established an expert group to consider issues relating to domiciliary births and to make recommendations in relation to the piloting of different approaches. I understand that the expert group will submit its report to the chief executive officers in the coming weeks. In the meantime a proposal from the Eastern Health Board and Holles St. Hospital to pilot an outreach domiciliary service has been considered by my Department and arrangements in relation to the proposal are being finalised.