I am aware that the home birth pilot project in University College Hospital, Galway, has been suspended by the Western Health Board. There are no plans to curtail the projects in Cork and Dublin.
The number of births in University College Hospital, Galway, rose from 2,830 in 2000 to 3,218 in 2002, with births to non-nationals increasing from 2% to 11.5% over the same period. The home birth pilot project was introduced in 1999 and provided six home births and 21 DOMINO births in year one; 8 home births and 100 DOMINO births in year two; 15 home births and 143 DOMINO births in year three.
The service plan adopted by the Western Health Board for 2003 agreed the need to appoint a consultant neonatologist and an additional consultant obstetrician to meet both the volume and complexity of cases presenting at University College Hospital, Galway. The service plan approved the transfer of funding from domiciliary home care services to support this priority development. The home birth scheme was suspended on this basis. The current caseload of patients who have booked for home births will have their service completed and these commitments will be fulfilled. No new patients are being accepted on to the scheme at this time. I am advised that the board's obstetric services will be further reviewed on the appointment of the consultant neonatologist within the framework of priority service objectives and national policy.