Professor Shane Higgins:

One of the previous witnesses was talking about a 25% drop in numbers. Yet, I think he quoted the numbers at the moment as being the same as they were in 1994. In fact, therefore, the numbers are still quite high. The numbers are approximately 7,500 babies to approximately 7,500 mothers. Our current location was never fit for purpose for those sorts of numbers. However, Deputy Lahart’s question is valid. Numbers are one thing, but complexity of care is another. We are seeing an ever more complex cohort of patients now, when taking into account factors such as age, BMI, artificial reproductive techniques, medical and surgical comorbidities which now allow for patients to become pregnant where previously they might not have done.

Dr. Walsh is the director of foetal medicine. She can talk about the number or referrals that we get. We get a significant number of referrals for foetal medicines. These are labour intensive and expertise intensive. We get those referrals from all over the country. They are not just in our Ireland east catchment area. I will not go any further on that, because I think that Dr. Walsh might like to come in on that. Our benign gynaecological services are going up. Gynaecology always loses out. Maternity services cannot wait.

Patients come in in labour and they deliver. Postponement and cancellation of gynaecological procedures happened an awful lot in the recent pandemic. We have significant waiting lists, particularly in some areas. A new hospital with increased bed numbers and facilities will allow us to develop our gynaecology service and provide appropriate gynaecology services to our patients.