Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 June 2014
167. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if the Mayo General Hospital maternity services along with other hospitals in the west are under review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24972/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware my Department is currently developing a National Strategy for Maternity Services which will determine the optimal configuration of maternity services to ensure that women in Ireland have access to safe, high quality maternity care in a setting most appropriate to their needs. As part of the development of the Strategy, all maternity services in the country will be reviewed and evaluated.
In the context of the implementation of the recommendations of the HIQA Report into the death of Savita Halappanavar at University Hospital Galway, and the Report on the establishment of Hospital Groups, the West/North West Hospital Group undertook a review of maternity services within the Group. The review included the maternity units at Mayo General Hospital, Portiuncula Hospital Ballinasloe, University Hospital Galway, Sligo Regional Hospital and Letterkenny General Hospital. While the draft report on maternity services in the West/North West Hospital Group may help inform the new National Strategy, any decision on maternity service reconfiguration will be taken on a national rather than a local basis.
