Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 October 2015
72. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the progress being made on the development of a national maternity strategy; if all hospitals have reported back to him with their submissions; if not, the hospitals that have yet to report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35552/15]
View answerMuch progress has been made in the development of the country's first National Maternity Strategy. A review of national and international literature on models of care has been completed, and this is informing the work of the Steering Group which I established earlier this year. I was pleased that the public consultation process, which was undertaken over the summer months, attracted over 1,300 submissions. While individual hospitals were not specifically targeted during the consultation, among the submissions received were several from maternity units around the country, and from staff who work in our maternity services. A thematic analysis of the submissions received has now been completed by the Institute of Public Health, and a report submitted to the Steering Group.
I hope to publish the Strategy by the end of the year.
