Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Following on from Deputy Donnelly's question, some people have always had private health insurance, perhaps as part of their job, but I am focused on maternity and paediatric care. Deputy Donnelly asked a question about continuity of maternity care. A fundamental reason women and their partners go for private maternity care is the continuity of care with a consultant. I understand that people are not always guaranteed the same consultant but, in my experience, a consultant will introduce the patient to his or her colleague as the consultant who will look after the patient when the original consultant is on holidays and that he or she is aware of the situation. Women want this. They do not want to be examined by somebody different every time, particularly with complex pregnancies. They want the assurance that they do not have to tell the whole story every time they go in for a check-up. It is regrettable this was not examined because it is a key reason for private health insurance. My only access was at that time. It is a critical point in people's lives and there is definitely a desire for continuity of care.

With regard to the children's hospital, the committee has heard there will be four or six suites for private paediatric care. While I understand why this is, if this is where we are going, it sends the wrong message to have private rooms in the new hospital. I understand why the contract is as it is and why doctors want it but it seems wholly unfair that if my child has an eye problem that is not an emergency and Deputy Donnelly's child has a similar eye problem but he does not have private insurance, one of the children will get preferential care in the new hospital.