Maternity Services Provision

Thursday, 2 February 2017

Ceisteanna (270)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

270. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, as per the national maternity strategy and safe motherhood, every mother should have a dating scan and a full anomaly scan in pregnancy; the reason only one third of patients at Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, have a dating scan carried out; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that, of these, only 50% are carried out by trained staff; and the reason only 10% of expectant mothers are receiving anomaly scans at Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar (details supplied). [5212/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The HSE has advised that the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar currently provides foetal anomaly scanning to high risk patients one day per week. In addition, some patients are referred to the National Maternity Hospital.

The Deputy is aware that the National Maternity Strategy is clear that all women must have equal access to standardised ultrasound services. The Strategy will be implemented on a phased basis over the coming years, and this work will be led by the HSE National Women & Infants Health Programme. In this regard, the newly-appointed Programme Director has advised that clinical guidance on routine 20 week anomaly scans will be developed as a priority.

In the interim, the Programme will continue to work with the six hospital groups to assist in increasing access to anomaly scans for those units with limited availability. One of the current challenges to increase access to anomaly scans is the recruitment of ultra-sonographers. In this context it is expected that the establishment of maternity networks across hospital groups will assist in the development of a sustainable model that ensures that all women within each hospital group, including those attending the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar, can access anomaly scans routinely.