Alan Shatter
Ceist:232 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures, if any, he is taking to ensure that maternity services will meet future needs in view of the predicted increase in the birth rate. [23017/97]
Vol. 485 No. 2
232 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures, if any, he is taking to ensure that maternity services will meet future needs in view of the predicted increase in the birth rate. [23017/97]
I am aware that the maternity hospitals are experiencing an increase in obstetric activity in the current year. The increase in the birth rate is at variance with earlier predictions which forecast a levelling out in the number of births in the years from 1996 onwards. This increase in the number of births together with an increase in the requirements for related services, for example, post operative complications, epidurals, paediatric follow up, has placed additional pressure on maternity hospitals.