asked the Minister for Health the percentage increase in maternal deaths from 1969 to 1970 and the percentage increase in maternal deaths during childbirth from 1969 to 1970.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Maternal Deaths.
4.
There was a decrease and not, as suggested by the Deputy, an increase in the number of maternal deaths from 1969 to 1970. The number of maternal deaths was 20 in 1969 and 19 in 1970. The percentage decrease is five although with figures of this order percentages are not meaningful and can be misleading.
The number of maternal deaths during childbirth in 1969 was four. These, of course, are included in the total figure of 20. The number for 1970 will not be available until next month and I shall write to the Deputy when I receive it.
Last week the Minister gave an answer in the form of a tabular statement that was circulated with the Official Report. It stated that the number of maternal deaths during 1969 was 15 and the number of those who died in childbirth was three, whereas in 1970 the number of maternal deaths was 29 and the figure for those who died in childbirth had risen to six. As the 1970 figures were provisional figures, one can only accept that the figure of 29 is a conservative one due to the fact that those who would have given birth towards the latter part of 1970 would still be potential figures for the maternal mortality rate for 1970. Arising from the Minister's reply, I think that the figures he has quoted for the Dublin area are contradictory to the ones he quoted last week.
The Deputy is now making a speech.
I am sorry the Deputy did not read more carefully the statement given last week. The actual number of maternal deaths was seven in 1968, three in 1969 and six in 1970, that figure being provisional. The numbers are so small, that to deduce there has been a serious increase in Dublin county and county borough in that period is ridiculous. It could have happened for a number of reasons. There is no evidence whatever that there has been an astonishing increase in maternal deaths in Dublin.
I am calling Question No. 5.
I should like to point out——
The Deputy may not point out. He may ask a question.
Although the figures quoted by the Minister may be small, I should like to point out to the Minister that the increase from three to six deaths is an increase of 100 per cent and that the increase in maternity mortality rates of from 15 to 29— which is a provisional and conservative figure for the Dublin area—represents an increase of 100 per cent. In view of the importance of this figure, what answer has the Minister or his Department for the increase? The number of deaths has decreased during the years; why has it increased suddenly?
The Deputy is talking nonsense.
I am giving the Minister the figures he gave last week, even if he says now that they are ridiculous.
I am calling Question No. 5.
5.
asked the Minister for Health the number of maternal deaths of women from the north side of Dublin city in respect of the latest period for which figures are available.
In 1969 there were no maternal deaths recorded from Dublin City North. In 1970 one maternal death has been recorded from Dublin City North, but, in common with most other 1970 figures, that is provisional at this stage.
6.
asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the increase in maternal deaths in Dublin city, he will consider the building of a new maternity hospital on the St. Laurence Hospital site at Navan road.
7.
asked the Minister for Health what plans his Department have for coping with the expansion in the demand for maternity hospital beds on the north side of Dublin city.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.
I am not aware of any increase in maternal deaths in Dublin city. There were three maternal deaths in 1967, six in 1968, one in 1969, two in 1970 and none in the first three months of this year.
As indicated in my reply to the Deputy's question on 13th July, 1971, my Department is giving close attention to the question of maternity accommodation needs on the north side of Dublin city and has proposals under consideration to cope with an expansion in demand.
Is the Minister aware that the figures he has given in this reply do not correspond with the figures he gave in the tabular statement last week, in which he stated that there were six maternal deaths in 1970 and three in 1969? Now the Minister states there was one in 1969 and two in 1970.
In the previous question we included Dublin county borrough and county, and I am confining this answer to Dublin city alone.
Surely the Minister is aware that any useful information which might be obtained from the answer given by him refers to the catchment area of the Rotunda Hospital on the north side of Dublin city?
I am calling Question No. 8.
8.
asked the Minister for Health the number of maternity flying squads on the north side of Dublin city and on the south side of Dublin city.
Each of the three large voluntary maternity hospitals in Dublin provides an emergency district service for Dublin city and county and counties adjoining Dublin and sometimes further afield. They do not restrict their service to any particular section of this area.