Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, may have seen the article on the front page of the Evening Echo yesterday, which was very worrying for any expectant mothers in the southern region. I do not propose to indulge in scare-mongering about a crisis or safety issues in our maternity hospitals. I tabled this Topical Issue matter to allow the Government to outline its plans in the wake of the recent report and to give some reassurance to expectant mothers. I wish to give the Government an opportunity to outline exactly what steps it will be taking.

Having read yesterday's report, the Minister of State will know all the facts. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation estimates it will take about 550 posts to be filled to bring the 19 maternity hospitals up to the international best standard for the birth rate, which is one midwife to 29.5 births.

The current national average ratio in the 19 hospitals stands at one midwife to 38 births while the figure in Cork University Maternity Hospital is one midwife to 37 births. The ratio ranges from one midwife to 30 births to one midwife to 55 births. This is a very worrying statistic as is the information that none of the 19 maternity hospitals is operating under what is known as the international best practice ratio of one midwife to 29.5 births. It is also worrying to consider that Liam Doran recently stated that even if all the posts were advertised in the morning, in his estimation it would take five to six years to fill all those posts with experienced registered midwives.

The HSE has given a commitment to undertake a national examination as a result of the report on the 19 maternity hospitals. I ask the Minister of State to outline how the Government intends to reassure expectant mothers.

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