Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 April 2017
564. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the fact that the maternity and infant care scheme last had a full review in 1994 when the reported costs of the general practitioner element of this combined care scheme was listed as nearly €17 million annually, when the scheme will be reviewed again in respect of its adherence to the current evidence base on antenatal care and value for money [17966/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Maternity and Infant Care Scheme provides an agreed programme of care, free of charge, to an expectant mother arising out of her pregnancy and to her new born baby for six weeks after birth. All expectant mothers who are ordinarily resident in Ireland are eligible to avail of services under the scheme. Women who choose to avail of these services are under the care of both a general practitioner of their choice and a hospital obstetrician. Care can be obtained from any general practitioner who has a contract for the provision of services under the scheme.
The scheme provides for 12 ante-natal visits – six to the general practitioner and six to the chosen maternity unit/hospital in the case of a first pregnancy. In subsequent pregnancies, there are seven visits to the general practitioner and five to the maternity unit/hospital. There are also two post-natal visits to the general practitioner – at two weeks for the baby and at six weeks for mother and baby. There are currently no plans by my Department to carry out a review of the scheme.
