Health Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 May 2014

Wednesday, 14 May 2014

Questions (28)

Clare Daly

Question:

28. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 212 of 26 March 2014, the reason the Health Service Executive has been permitted to endorse the website of a private company regarding maternity services here (details supplied), which fails to mention the existence of publicly-funded evidence-based midwifery-led care and midwifery led units, and instead promotes the views of obstetricians with private practices, and which does not contribute to informed decision-making on behalf of pregnant women when it signally fails to conform to international research evidence on a range of issues such as pain management. [21141/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The website referred to by the Deputy is a registered brand name of Healthcare Help Ltd.

The information on the site is intended to be for general educational and information purposes only. It features healthcare professionals from a range of disciplines and from different maternity units in Irish healthcare settings. The aim is to provide general information for free to all women but in particular, those attending maternity services. It does not purport to be complete or exhaustive. It is intended for educational purposes, not as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

The HSE is committed to improving women's healthcare choices. The HSE advises that women should seek advice about models of care from their family doctor or from the maternity unit of their choice and that women should always seek the advice of their doctor or qualified medical professional regarding specific medical conditions.