Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 July 2019
508. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has identified the suite of clinical guidelines required in maternity services; and the gaps identified in terms of the development and-or review of new or existing clinical guidelines. [30691/19]
View answerThe National Clinical Effectiveness Committee (NCEC) is a Ministerial committee whose role is to prioritise and quality assure, to the level of international methodological standards, a suite of national clinical guidelines and national clinical audit prioritised as important for the Irish health system.
To support the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026, the NCEC is prioritising and quality assuring a set of National Clinical Guidelines for maternity services. For example, the National Clinical Guideline No. 4. Irish Maternity Early Warning System, first published in 2014, was updated and republished by the Department of Health in February 2019.
Guidelines on Intrapartum Care are also in development as a priority to support a risk-based approach to maternity care. The clinical guideline "Risk in Pregnancy" is nearing completion and will undergo quality assurance by the NCEC in the coming months. It is expected that the NCEC will recommend it to the Minister for Health for endorsement as a National Clinical Guideline soon after.
Regarding the specific information requested by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
