Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I think the Chairman for this opportunity. I welcome the report and the fact that HIQA will carry out an inquiry. I am familiar with the hospital as my two children were born there and I was present. My grandchild was also born there. One of the things that concerned me, particularly in recent years, is that at a time when many people came into the area and the demographics changed as it became a dormer area on the outer ring of the commuter belt, many people came from eastern Europe. Eastern European constituents came to me throughout the 2000s and told me they were going home to have their babies because of concern about maternity practices in general, not just in Portlaoise. I mention that for what it is worth because it raised concerns.

We do not have a national policy on the use of syntocinon. I am not a medic but I have followed the issue of the use of the drug. It is used in the active management of the birth to shorten labour time. My concern is that the average induction levels are at 31%, whereas the WHO reports that it should be below 10%. The gap is a major concern and there is international concern reported about the overuse of this artificial induction drug.

It is reported that the Minister is looking for a standardised protocol; however, the issues arising from the use of induction drugs are not covered in the overall recommendations. We can see from the cases in Portlaoise hospital that a major issue was the pumping of induction drugs into the mother's blood stream, even when the baby was showing signs of foetal distress. These drugs make the contractions more frequent and stronger, putting too much strain on the heart of the little baby. That is a concern that I would like to see addressed.

In reply to Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, the Minister has said 38 midwifery posts were approved. When were they approved? At what stage of the recruitment process are the approved posts? At this time do we have sufficient midwifery staff in Portlaoise hospital such that I, as a local Deputy, can assure constituents that it is a safe hospital?