Emmet Stagg
Question:87 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children if it is proposed to discontinue the provision of maternity services at Monaghan County Hospital. [3399/01]
Written Answers. - Maternity Services.
Liz McManus
Question:97 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children his policy in relation to the threatened closure of maternity units in County Monaghan and Dundalk, County Louth. [3414/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 97 together.
The provision of maternity services at these hospitals is, as the Deputies are aware, a matter for the North Eastern Health Board. The board's 1998 framework document for the development of acute hospital services in the region recommended that the maternity services in the region be reviewed. Briefly, the report of the review group indicated that consultant-led maternity services at Monaghan and Dundalk must cease due to concerns about patient safety; a pilot centre for midwife-led obstetric services be established in Dundalk and consultant-led delivery units should be located at Drogheda and Cavan.
I have been advised that the health board decided not to "accept in full the recommendations" in the review group's report and it unanimously approved the establishment of a further review with a broader remit, that will reflect on the potential for cross-Border co-operation and the requirements of spatial planning, as anticipated in the national development plan. It is proposed that the board will finalise plans for this review at the February monthly meeting of the board.
I am of the firm view the way forward for maternity services is about putting in place services which comply with safety standards and internationally recognised best practice recommendations. I met the chairman and representatives of the board recently and I emphasised the need to ensure patient and staff safety. I also stated that it is imperative that the board establishes and finalises a clear view on what services will be provided at each hospital in the region, the new services requiring to be developed and the enhancement of existing services in the light of the £160 million NDP funding which has been notified to the board. I look forward to receiving the board's proposals in this regard.
I have also been informed that the board further considered the question of maternity services at special meetings in January and February. In order to avoid the suspension of maternity services at Monaghan and Dundalk, the health board mandated the chief executive officer to seek as a matter of urgency, approval for the appointment of temporary consultant obstetricians to Cavan-Monaghan and Louth-Meath hospital groups to give adequate cover for the continuation of maternity services at both Monaghan and Dundalk and to seek in addition approval for the immediate appointment of onsite paediatric cover at both hospitals.
My Department has recently received a submission from the board in this regard. This submission which includes proposals for five temporary consultant staff is currently being considered by my Department. However, approval of any such posts would ultimately be a matter for Comhairle na nOspideál, which is the statutory body set up to regulate appointments of consultant medical staffs in hospitals providing services under the Health Acts.