Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentation. I seek clarification on the newborn screening programme. This is obviously something that would be hugely advantageous if it were introduced. Have there been any discussions with the 19 maternity units in the country on the possibility of introducing such a screening programme? On the issue of information being provided to GPs, have there been any discussions with the Irish College of General Practitioners or the various organisations representing GPs about presentations or getting information out to doctors?

Has progress been made on the dissemination of information?

I recall speaking to a person who returned to Ireland, having worked in the health services in United Kingdom, who suggested that a clinic specifically to deal with teenage pregnancies would be set up in a maternity hospital. When working in the UK, there was a significant inflow of people from Somalia and, following the suggestion that the Somali people suffering particular conditions should have a specific clinic, it was set up within six months. However, it took some ten years before the clinic to deal with teenage pregnancies was set up in Ireland. One of the recommendations of the witnesses is that every hospital in the country should have basic inpatient and outpatient care for local patients. Is that feasible or would it be better to try to co-ordinate care on the basis of a identifying a hospital in each region with the expertise close enough to that particular area?