Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The report stated: "The continued absence of a national maternity strategy as recommended by the authority in 2013 makes it difficult to assess and compare maternity services in Ireland". A national steering group was established on 30 April 2015, I assume on foot of the draft report. This indicates a lack of urgency in this particular area. As we have pointed out, there will be between 1,500 and 1,800 births between now and the end of the year at Portlaoise hospital.

The report also stated:

The pivotal appointment of a director of midwifery to a maternity department located within a general hospital is unique to Portlaoise hospital. This role has had a very positive influence in terms of assessing and improving the standard of midwifery care. However, at the time of writing, a senior obstetric lead had not been appointed to the maternity department to provide independent senior experienced obstetric clinical leadership.

Even as late as the publication of the report, some matters critically important for the delivery of safe maternity services at Portlaoise hospital had not been acted on. I would have thought at the very least an independent senior obstetric clinical leader would have been appointed forthwith.

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