James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

The horrific problems of women who were told they had miscarried their babies but subsequently gave birth to healthy children have raised a number of questions about our maternity care, not least about its exorbitant cost in our republic. In a move that mirrors cross-Border shopping expeditions, women are halving the cost of giving birth by going to Northern Ireland. When one considers there is a possibility of being refused admittance to a hospital run by the HSE because of some initiative or other and that in consequence one would have to travel miles to another facility, perhaps going across the Border is not unduly stressful.

What women gain is a quieter hospital environment and lower medical costs. One in eight babies born in Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry last year were born to women who had decided to opt out of the HSE system and into the Northern healthcare system. The financial difference is quite marked. In the Northern Ireland hospitals a private consultant charges approximately €2,300 for between eight and twelve antenatal visits and attendance at the birth. The equivalent cost in the South is between €3500 and €5000. The nightly rate in Newry for accommodation is also half that of the three main Dublin hospitals. Cross-Border dental care is already well established as are food and drink shopping trips which, although detrimental to our economy, are not surprising given that Ireland is the second most expensive city in the EU for food. These facilities are joined now by maternity care. We have out-priced ourselves and are reaping the dubious rewards.

Although no scandal in maternity care attaches to the Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar in my constituency of Longford-Westmeath, there have been other medical scandals driven by HSE failures which have given grave cause for concern. In one case phantom appointments were given for a dermatology consultant who had not worked at the hospital for the previous six months. In another worrying cost-cutting measure the hospital refused to provide X-Rays and scans deemed necessary by local doctors for their patients, who were forced to travel to Dublin for the diagnostic procedures. Cancer and mortuary services have been removed from the hospital.

However, nothing could beat the shock for an expectant mother to be told she has miscarried her baby and that it will be aborted. It is a miracle that Melissa Redmond had the conviction and presence of mind to seek a second opinion. Otherwise her perfect baby would have been killed because there was an incorrect diagnosis of miscarriage when there was a viable foetus. This case encouraged other women to come forward leading to the setting up of a review which is to last for six months. It will be chaired by Professor William Ledger.

Patients must be protected from the general and specific mismanagement that has dogged the HSE since its conception. No pun is intended. The HSE has been the black hole of the medical sector. In a game of pass-the-buck between the Minister and the HSE, patients have lost out, trust has been eroded and responsibility has been conspicuously absent as letters, requests for care and other medical requirement are lost in the general mayhem.

Life is sacred. Given our history of care for the unborn, this latest scandal is one too far. How many times can the Minister escape the obvious conclusion? She is not providing the medical care the people of this country deserve and the HSE is colluding with her in the mismanagement of the nation's health. It beggars belief that with a population of approximately 4.3 million the Government cannot safeguard the people of this country and offer them a safe and efficient health service in which they can have complete confidence.

That is not the case here and it is important that the Minister addresses the issue.

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