Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 June 2014
707. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Health the position regarding maternity services at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway; if the closure of the service is part of the West North West Hospital Group maternity services review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25877/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra708. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Health in view of the document, High Level Review of Maternity Services in the West North West Hospital Group, what is the anticipated timescale for the implementation of the maternity services review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25878/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 707 and 708 together.
The position is that in the context of the implementation of the recommendations of a number of reports 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 Portiuncula Hospital Ballinasloe, Mayo General Hospital, University Hospital Galway, Sligo Regional Hospital and Letterkenny General Hospital. It is understood that the draft report explores a number of options for reconfiguration, but no particular option is recommended.
My Department is currently developing a new 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. Any decision on maternity service reconfiguration will be considered in the wider context of the National Strategy, and therefore on a national rather than on a local basis. In these circumstances, I can assure the Deputy that while the draft report on maternity services in the West/North West Hospital Group may help inform the new National Strategy, no decisions on service reconfiguration will be implemented without my agreement or in advance of the publication of the Strategy. It is intended to publish the Strategy later this year.
