As the Deputy will be aware, governance structures for our maternity services are currently being remodelled with the establishment of the National Women & Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) and maternity networks across hospital groups. The NWIHP will lead the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services, ensure the consistent delivery of high quality care in these services and oversee the development of maternity networks. Governance arrangements for the networks will be agreed between the NWIHP and the hospital group CEOs.
The Maternity Strategy provides that all development funding for maternity services will be ring-fenced and allocated through the NWIHP. Thus the Programme will facilitate greater oversight and support for service providers and ensure the appropriate allocation and targeting of new resources. I am hopeful that the new maternity network which is currently being established in the South/South West Hospital Group (SSWHG) will ensure better coordination and utilisation of maternity and gynaecological resources across the group. In that regard, I am pleased to note the very recent appointment of Professor John Higgins as Group Clinical Director Women and Children Services for the SSWHG. I am advised that Prof. Higgins will assume clinical and executive responsibility for maternity services in the Group's four maternity hospitals viz Cork University Maternity Hospital, University Hospital Kerry, University Hospital Waterford and South Tipperary General Hospital on the 28 of February next.
I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly on the specific questions concerning the SSWHG Maternity Network.
