Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)

We are seeing a repeat of a trend in the health service since the Government and, in particular, the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, took office. There has been almost a 50% increase in the cost of health insurance for families. At the start of the year the Minister announced a 40% increase in the health insurance levy charged to health insurance providers. The levy was to ensure the companies would not increase their prices, but VHI increased the cost of cover for older people by up to 12.5%.

The Minister said he would not be closing any hospitals. This was the same promise given during the general election campaign with regard to Roscommon County Hospital and other hospitals, yet when the HSE service plan was published just a few weeks ago, up to 900 community hospital beds were to be closed across the country.

The Minister stated the retirement of staff under the early retirement scheme would not result in a diminution of services or have an adverse impact on patient treatment times. This week, however, he has admitted that elective treatments may have to be postponed or delayed, for which he makes no apology, despite having tried to create a mirage in the past few weeks by saying there would not be an impact on services.

The one area in which treatment is not elective is maternity services. Babies will continue to be born; the Minister cannot apply the brake and tell people to hold off in terms of the number of babies born in the State. However, as of last week, staff were leaving maternity units across the country and the Government had no plan as to how the situation would be dealt with. The Taoiseach has announced that transition teams will be in place, but how will the Government ensure services for newborn babies and their mothers will be in place?

I refer to comments made by some of the professional staff working in maternity services. The director of the HSE obstetrics and gynaecology programme, Professor Michael Turner, said staff reductions and cuts to HSE maternity service programmes could result in an increase in maternal and infant mortality rates. His concern is that unless we prioritise maternity services, we will see an increase in the number of maternal deaths if resources are cut too severely. That is the price that will be paid.

I refer to staff reductions in the Mid-Western Regional Maternity Hospital which will occur next month. Consultant obstetrician Gerry Burke has stated a huge exodus of the most experienced midwives from the hospital is taking place. He has also said that if the HSE has a comprehensive plan, it is not sharing it with staff. The Rotunda Hospital is losing 11 midwives, while eight are due to leave Holles Street Hospital. One in four midwives is leaving the maternity hospital in Limerick. How can the service be maintained? Will the Minister of State outline the plans in place and how this most non-elective of services will be maintained to ensure newborn babies and their mothers are given the service they require and expect? I hope she can give the House some information on the transition teams and how maternity services will be protected.

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