Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair and members of the committee for inviting me today to discuss the new national maternity hospital. I welcome the opportunity to discuss what we all agree is a critical and nationally important project for women’s healthcare. It is fair to say that every member of the committee shares the same goal, that is, delivery of the best possible healthcare for women and for babies. The Government has set out its position in that regard by committing to improving women’s healthcare right across the board. As I have said previously, we need a revolution in women’s healthcare.

This year we are providing a very significant investment in services, and pushing a renewed focus on maternity care with a real focus on the national maternity strategy. The funding allocated in the budget for this year includes more than €7 million, specifically for the implementation of the national maternity hospital. It is the single biggest investment in the strategy since its publication in 2016. To put it into context, the investment allocated for this year is five times greater than previous annual investment. We are taking this very seriously and we are looking for real progress.

Improving women’s healthcare is a priority for me, for Government and I am sure for the committee as well. The additional funding allows us to hire more staff. It facilitates further development of community midwifery and specialist services, which are so important. Some of the positive initiatives happening across the system right now include: an expansion of the endometriosis centre at Tallaght University Hospital; the expansion of existing and the setting up of new "see and treat" gynaecology clinics; the setting up of two new regional fertility hubs; funding to hire 24 additional lactation consultants; and funding for a GP clinical lead for women’s health.

It is, unfortunately, an inescapable fact that many of our maternity hospitals are housed in antiquated buildings that are no longer fit for purpose. This is unfair on women, babies and on our phenomenal and very hardworking staff. I worry sometimes that these facts can get lost in the debate around the new national maternity hospital.

In a letter that was published in The Irish Times recently, a group of 42 senior clinicians expressed concern that misinformation and misunderstanding could delay what they described as a vital project to create a world-class maternity hospital for women and babies in Ireland.Professor Mary Higgins, a well-known consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician who works at the National Maternity Hospital and campaigned in favour of the repeal of the eighth amendment, wrote recently about just how badly we need this hospital. She said that, “We say on a near daily basis what a difference this will make to the people we care for.” She added that it is a “fantastic project.” It is important for all of us, as we endeavour to get the best possible result, that we do not lose sight of just how important it is for women and for babies that we get this hospital built, and what a difference it is going to make.

That said, as I have stated publicly, my preference is for the State to own the land on which the new national maternity hospital will be built. The State’s fundamental objectives are first to provide a world-class facility and to ensure all clinically appropriate services that are legally permissible are provided for the women who need them. We must also protect the State’s investment.

The proposed corporate and clinical governance arrangements for the national maternity hospital at Elm Park were set out, as the committee will be very aware, in the Mulvey agreement. This was finalised following a very extensive mediation process between the National Maternity Hospital and the St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group, and it was brought to Government in 2017. Following on from the Mulvey agreement, a draft legal framework has been developed which aims to copper-fasten these arrangements and work is ongoing in relation to this. I have been very clear that I will not be bringing any proposal to Government unless it provides assurances around all legally permissible services being provided in the new national maternity hospital, as well as affirming that the State’s investment is safeguarded.

There has been further engagement with stakeholders in the national maternity hospital project, as we move toward finalising the various arrangements, including the legal arrangements that will underpin it all. I want to reiterate that this Government remains fully committed to the development of maternity and women’s health services in Ireland. The relocation of the National Maternity Hospital is a very significant part of this work. We remain committed to providing the highest quality infrastructure and environment to facilitate the delivery of modern, safe, quality maternity services for women and infants for many years to come.