Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 February 2014
700. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Health if he will allay the very real fears of persons in Sligo, Leitrim, south Donegal and west Cavan by confirming that full maternity services will continue at Sligo Regional Hospital and by confirming that the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit will continue to be used to care for newborn ill infants. [9528/14]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, my Department is currently developing a new National Strategy for Maternity Services which will determine the optimal configuration of maternity services to ensure that women in Ireland have access to safe, high quality maternity care in a setting most appropriate to their needs. As part of the development of the Strategy, maternity services in all parts of the country will be reviewed and evaluated. It is intended to publish the Strategy this year.
A draft report into maternity services in the West/North West Hospital Group makes no recommendations in relation to the closure of any of the five maternity units, or indeed any neonatal intensive care unit, within the Hospital Group.
