Services for eligible patients at the National Maternity Hospital are provided under an arrangement with the Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA.
The National Maternity Hospital manages approximately 8,300 deliveries each year, an average of just under 700 per month. My Department has been advised by the ERHA that the National Maternity Hospital will continue to manage 700 deliveries per month. If demand exceeds this number, there may be a situation where a small number of women will have to attend another maternity hospital.
In July last, the then Minister, Deputy Martin, and officials of the Department met with representatives of the board and management of the National Maternity Hospital and of the authority to discuss proposals for a number of developments aimed at relieving infrastructural deficits at the National Maternity Hospital.
The then Minister, Deputy Martin, approved short-term proposals which are designed to increase capacity in delivery rooms, theatres and neo-natal intensive care units, as well as providing improved post-natal facilities for mothers and babies. Approval was given to the appointment of staff to oversee and manage the project, and the process of selection of a design team is under way. In addition, considerable work has been done in preparing plans for the longer-term redevelopment of the hospital. The project team charged with overseeing this work has completed a development plan that recommends a significant increase in the current level of accommodation at the hospital.
The Eastern Regional Health Authority has also been working with the other maternity hospitals in Dublin to address the increase in births. Approval has been given to the appointment of a design team at the Coombe Women's Hospital to allow planning to commence on a new capital development which will include an extension to the neo-natal intensive care unit; upgrading of the existing ICU; a new caesarean section theatre; a day assessment unit; an ultrasound suite; a parentcraft-admissions unit; an upgrade of mechanical and electrical services and ward upgrading. The estimated capital cost of these works will be almost €20 million.
At the Rotunda Hospital, a development which included the amalgamation of the paediatric and neo-natal intensive care units, as well as the upgrading of post-natal beds on the third floor was commissioned in 2003, at a capital cost of about €10 million.
The provision of services at Limerick Regional Maternity Hospital is a matter for the Mid-Western Health Board. The board has recently received financial clearance for a seventh consultant obstetrician-gynaecologist, and a capital development is under way to provide an additional delivery suite, theatre and an extension to the admissions-reception area at an estimated capital cost of €3.8 million. These improvements are expected to be ready in early 2005.
Work has also commenced on the development of new midwife-led maternity units at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and at Cavan General Hospital at a combined estimated capital cost of €1.5 million. This service will offer women greater choice and control within the maternity services. It is anticipated that these units will be fully commissioned early next year.
My Department has provided additional revenue funding of €1.2 million to commission the new maternity unit at Letterkenny General Hospital in early 2005, together with equipping costs in the region of €0.8 million. The new unit will provide enhanced facilities and additional midwife staffing, as well as some increase in capacity.
Construction work is continuing on a new amalgamated maternity unit at Cork University Hospital which is expected to be completed by the middle of 2005. This new maternity hospital represents an investment of €75 million and will replace the existing facilities at St. Finbarr's Hospital, Erinville Hospital and the Bons Secours Hospital, Cork. The unit is designed to cater for approximately 7,000 births annually.
I am committed to the further development of maternity services in line with available resources.
