Vol. 545 No. 4
242 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself with the availability and quality of service in maternity hospitals in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30435/01]
I accept that obstetric services at the Dublin maternity hospitals are experiencing service pressures. A number of factors have been identified by the Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA, as contributing to this pressure.
The number of births in the eastern region has increased from 20,646 in 1996 to 22,813 in the year 2000 with a further increase expected in 2001. A further contributory factor to the current pressures is the level of referrals from outside the regions. The ERHA advises that 10% of the workload in the Dublin hospitals relates to women from outside the region. The ERHA has recommended to the Dublin maternity hospitals that, in general, referrals from outside the region should be based on an assessment by a consultant in the women's own region that such a referral is warranted on clinical grounds. The ERHA is also contacting other health boards with a view to facilitating women to access maternity services in their local areas in keeping with a policy of regional self-sufficiency. However, services will continue to be provided for patients living outside the region who require access to specialised obstetric services. The ERHA has also set up a working group with the three maternity hospitals to develop proposals for immediate, medium and long-term solutions to the current difficulties.
I established a special forum on 16 October 2001 to examine the difficulties experienced by the three hospitals in recruiting and retaining midwives. I received the forum's report on 22 November last and I am considering its recommendations.
243 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of beds available in maternity hospitals in Dublin by hospital; his views on whether these numbers are sufficient to meet existing and projected demand; the measures he proposes to take to increase bed numbers where this is deemed necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30436/01]
I accept that obstetric services at the Dublin maternity hospitals are experiencing service pressures. A number of factors have been identified by the Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA, as contributing to this pressure. The number of births in the eastern region has increased from 20,646 in 1996 to 22,813 in the year 2000 with a further increase expected in 2001. A further contributory factor to the current pressures is the level of referrals from outside the regions. The ERHA advises that 10% of the workload in the Dublin hospitals relates to women from outside the region. The ERHA has recommended to the Dublin maternity hospitals that, in general, referrals from outside the region should be based on an assessment by a consultant in the women's own region that such a referral is warranted on clinical grounds. The ERHA is also contacting other health boards with a view to facilitating women to access maternity services in their local areas in keeping with a policy of regional self-sufficiency. However, services will continue to be provided for patients living outside the region who require access to specialised obstetric services. The ERHA has also set up a working group with the three maternity hospitals to develop proposals for immediate, medium and long-term solutions to the current difficulties.
I established a special forum on 16 October 2001 to examine the difficulties experienced by the three hospitals in recruiting and retaining midwives. I received the forum's report on 22 November last and I am considering its recommendations.
With regard to capacity, the Deputy will be aware that a comprehensive review of acute hospital bed capacity needs has been conducted by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Finance and in consultation with the social partners. On foot of that review, the Government has decided in the context of the new health strategy, Quality and Fairness: A Health System for You, to provide an additional 3,000 beds in acute hospitals over the next ten years. A total of 650 of these beds will be in place by the end of 2002. The next phase of the review will involve an examination and assessment of clinical activity data by speciality, including maternity services. The approved bed complement of the three public maternity hospitals in Dublin is as follows: Rotunda Hospital – 189 beds, National Maternity Hospital – 206 beds, and The Coombe Women's Hospital – 237 beds.
With regard to reports that an increasing number of foreign nationals are entering the country for the specific purpose of availing of maternity services to ultimately confer Irish citizenship on their offspring, this is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. However, I am advised by the ERHA that it expects that there will be about 3,000 births relating to asylum seekers in Dublin in 2001.
244 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children the established and serving numbers of nursing staff and midwives in maternity hospitals in Dublin by hospital; his views on whether these numbers are sufficient to meet existing and projected demand; the measures he proposes to take to increase staff numbers where this is deemed necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30437/01]
The staffing levels in the Dublin maternity hospitals are as follows:
|
RotundaHospital |
NationalMaternityHospital |
CoombeWomen'sHospital |
|
|
Approved Complement(w.t.e) |
201 |
236 |
168.5 |
|
Total in post |
175 |
228 |
148.4 |
|
RGN/RM |
148 |
167.5 |
|
|
RGN |
25 |
45 |
|
|
RM |
2 |
16 |
|
|
Vacancies |
26 |
8 (newarrivals inDec.=10) |
20.1 |
245 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on reports that an increasing number of foreign nationals are entering the country for the specific purpose of availing of maternity services to ultimately confer Irish citizenship on their offspring; the information he has to substantiate such reports; if the reported practice is placing undue pressure on the maternity system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30438/01]
I accept that obstetric services at the Dublin maternity hospitals are experiencing service pressures. A number of factors have been identified by the Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA, as contributing to this pressure. The number of births in the eastern region has increased from 20,646 in 1996 to 22,813 in the year 2000 with a further increase expected in 2001. A further contributory factor to the current pressures is the level of referrals from outside the regions. The ERHA advises that 10% of the workload in the Dublin hospitals relates to women from outside the region. The ERHA has recommended to the Dublin maternity hospitals that, in general, referrals from outside the region should be based on an assessment by a consultant in the women's own region that such a referral is warranted on clinical grounds. The ERHA is also contacting other health boards with a view to facilitating women to access maternity services in their local areas in keeping with a policy of regional self-sufficiency. However, services will continue to be provided for patients living outside the region who require access to specialised obstetric services. The ERHA has also set up a working group with the three maternity hospitals to develop proposals for immediate, medium and long-term solutions to the current difficulties.
I established a special forum on 16 October 2001 to examine the difficulties experienced by the three hospitals in recruiting and retaining midwives. I received the forum's report on 22 November last and I am considering its recommendations.
