Professor Louise Kenny:

Absolutely. We triage because we have to, not because we want to or not because we should. In a situation where we can only provide ultrasounds in respect of half of all pregnancies, we have to make a decision as to who will get that scan. We make very difficult clinical decisions, based on previous history and perceived risk. It is woefully inadequate and sets us apart from our international neighbours.

I have been in Ireland for ten years, having trained in the UK. I cannot speak to whether the provision of that scan has been curtailed by a perceived influence of religion versus State or patient choice based on the findings of the scan. That is not my impression. At various times in recent years we came close to providing the scan for 70% to 80% of the population. However, loss of staff, the fact staff are not replaced and increasingly curtailed resources are driving the availability of this scan.

If we are in a position to roll out that scan to every single woman, it will have a knock-on effect on foetal medicine services. We cannot provide a scan and make a diagnosis but not be in position to follow up with foetal medicine services. That will certainly have an impact on the care we provide in CUMH. We will need more foetal medicine sessions to provide ongoing care pathways to those women identified with complex pregnancies.