Vol. 517 No. 4
104 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the call made by an obstetrician at Monaghan Hospital to withdraw maternity services for first time mothers because of the lack of a full-time paediatric unit in the hospital; and his views on whether the hospital requires such a unit. [9892/00]
224 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the call made by an obstetrician at Monaghan Hospital to withdraw maternity services for first time mothers because of the lack of a full-time paediatric unit in the hospital; and his views on whether the hospital requires such a unit. [10218/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 224 together.
The provision of maternity services in the North Eastern Health Board area is the statutory responsibility of the North Eastern Health Board in the first instance.
The North Eastern Health Board in its 1998 framework document for the further development of acute hospital services in the region indicated that a review of its maternity services would be carried out. An independent review group has been established and the process in now under way.
The objective of the review is to ensure a safe and acceptable choice of service including the full range of ante-natal, post-natal, in-patient and out-patient services for the women of the region.
In the course of the process the review group will consult with obstetricians, anaesthetists and paediatricians, general practitioners, nurses, midwives and consumer representatives. The review group will examine all options in the light of current best practice, knowledge and developments.
