Vol. 531 No. 4
100 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the closure of the maternity units in Monaghan and Dundalk, County Louth, he will outline his position on the provision of maternity services in the area; his views on the findings of the Condren report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5958/01]
The provision of maternity services at Dundalk county hospital is a matter for the North Eastern Health Board. The report of the review group on maternity services in the North Eastern Health Board which was completed in November last recommended that consultant-led maternity services at Monaghan and Dundalk should cease due to concerns about patient safety; a pilot centre for midwife-led obstetric services should be established in Dundalk; and that 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 that it unanimously approved the establishment of a further review with a broader remit. This further review will reflect on the potential for cross-border co-operation and the requirements of spatial planning as anticipated in the national development plan.
At the request of the board, I met the chairman and members of the board on 30 January 2001 and I wrote to the chairman of the board on 5 February. In my letter I expressed my firm view that the way forward for maternity services is about putting in place services which comply with safety standards and internationally recognised best practice and I emphasised the need to ensure patient and staff safety. I also stated that it was imperative that the board establish and finalise 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 advised that at a special meeting on 5 February the board further considered the question of maternity services at both Monaghan and Dundalk. In order to avoid the suspension of maternity services at Monaghan and Dundalk, the 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 facilitate 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.
The approval of any such posts is a matter for Comhairle na nOspidéal, the statutory body set up to regulate appointments of consultant medical staff in hospitals providing services under the health Acts. In the particular circumstances and particularly in view of the need for an early decision, my Department had no objection to the submission of this proposal to an comhairle for its consideration. I understand that the board has now, in fact, submitted applications for approval to the additional temporary posts to an comhairle for consideration by that body at its next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 28 February, 2001.
