Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2015
17. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a survey carried out by the INMO (details supplied) that points out that the internationally recommended midwife-to-birth ratio of one midwife for every 29.5 births, 1:29.5, is not in place in any hospitals or midwifery units here; the measures he has taken to tackle the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20768/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy attention has been drawn to the findings of this survey. One of my priorities for 2015 is the publication of a National Maternity Strategy. This will provide a roadmap to better maternity services. It will ensure that women have access to safe, sustainable, well staffed maternity care in a setting most appropriate to their needs.
An extra €2 million has been included in the HSE National Service Plan 2015 to address current pressures within the Maternity Service. The measures proposed by the HSE include the appointment of 7 consultant obstetricians, 3 sonographers and additional senior midwives and midwives, the numbers of which will be informed by the Birthrate Plus study, which will be completed in June. A benchmarking exercise is being undertaken to establish baseline midwifery and maternity care assistant staffing levels in all maternity units.
Ireland has a relatively low ratio of staff per birth in our maternity services. However, the numbers of obstetricians and midwives are increasing. In 2015, we have 123 whole time equivalent consultant obstetricians, compared with 116 in 2011, when this Government came into office. Midwife numbers have increased significantly from 1,189 whole time equivalents in 2011 to 1,424 in 2015. This on-going increase in staffing came at a time when the country was in a financial emergency. This is significant and shows that government and the HSE protected maternity services during the toughest financial environment. Increasing staff numbers, coupled with a falling birth rate, means that, although there is a way to go, the ratio of obstetric and midwifery staff to births is improving and will continue to do so.
While staffing levels and expertise form part of the service delivery, resources are not the only issue. Guaranteeing better outcomes for patients is a fundamental principle of our health reform programme. We all continue to strive to ensure that patients receive the best care possible when they need to access health and social care services.
Action 46 of Future Health commits the Department of Health to work with the HSE to implement an approach to workforce planning and development that achieves the objectives of: recruiting and retaining the right mix of staff; training and upskilling the workforce; providing for professional and career development; and creating supportive and healthy workplaces. This approach will include the development by my Department of a national integrated strategic framework for health workforce planning during 2015.
A cross-sectoral Working Group will be convened to develop the framework in the near future. The Group's deliberations will take into account any relevant considerations from the development of a national maternity strategy and consultation with key stakeholders will form part of the Group's work.
