Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We look forward to that.

I want to raise the issue of overcrowding and associated risks in the Rotunda Hospital. HIQA conducted a review of the Rotunda Hospital which I will not read out in full because, quite frankly, it shames the people on the other side of this room. The issues raised are very serious. HIQA says that the cot spacing between babies is inadequate. It also says that there is no additional or spare neonatal intensive care unit capacity in other units nationally and therefore the national neonatal intensive care system is in a precarious state as the Rotunda caps its admissions. On the adult high dependency unit, it says that there is a lack of space around the bed to allow for full resuscitation to be instigated and the necessary equipment to be brought into the room. I will not read all of this out for fear some pregnant woman is watching this and ends up terrified. These are issues that have been raised with the Minister and the HSE on more than one occasion. Why has Mr. Reid not met representatives of the Rotunda Hospital yet? Is there a reluctance to meet them? Why did the Minister not attend the meeting with the Rotunda Hospital that was scheduled recently? I understand that officials from his Department attended. A face-to-face meeting has been sought to raise issues that are of very serious concern. The Rotunda serves my constituency. My area is probably the biggest user of the hospital, notwithstanding the fact that the hospital is in the city centre. As Mr. Reid will know, my constituency has the fastest growing population in the State. These are services that are absolutely vital and demand is only growing. I understand that demand is falling nationally but in the constituency that the Rotunda serves it is growing. When will steps be taken to make the Rotunda Hospital a safer place for women, babies and staff?