Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies O'Rourke, Wynne and Cullinane for raising this really serious issue. I was under the impression that I was coming to the House to discuss issues concerning visitations to nursing homes, but I will address both issues.

This was raised in the Dáil a couple of weeks ago by a Sinn Féin Deputy from Cork. I know it is a very challenging issue. I am a mother of three and I brought either my mother or my husband to every single appointment I ever had when I was pregnant. I want to congratulate Deputy O'Rourke on the baby who will be born very soon. It is a magical time but I know how challenging it is. It is very hard for an expectant mother to face these visits on her own. What Deputy Cullinane read out was devastating. It is absolutely devastating for any woman to be unsure of where to go in a clinic and to get bad news.

When I stood here to discuss this previously, we were told that the reasons for the policy were purely to do with the prevention and control of infection and the need to limit footfall in hospitals. Very young and premature babies and new mothers are very vulnerable, but obviously partners want to be involved. Though it varies from constituency to constituency and from hospital to hospital, I understand that the majority of hospitals allow partners to be present during the birth, including in the case of a Caesarean section. The main issue is that partners are not allowed to attend a 20-week scan. That scan comes at a very important time during a pregnancy, when parents are able to see how their baby is developing. This restriction is very difficult, as a mother could receive very bad news at this appointment.

This was raised with the Taoiseach in the Dáil last week. He said he would discuss the matter with the acting Chief Medical Officer to see if any compassionate grounds would be allowed. I imagine this will be extremely difficult in counties where restrictions are at level 3, such as Dublin and now Donegal. I have raised this with the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and I will certainly do so again. This is an extremely difficult situation. A mother is likely to feel emotional, vulnerable, tired and stressed at that time in her life. She is looking forward to the birth of her new baby, but it is very difficult to face that alone. Everybody needs support.

Deputy Wynne spoke about visitations to other facilities. Unprecedented challenges have arisen throughout our health services, and nowhere more so than in the area of older persons' services. As we all know, nursing homes closed down in early March and family members were unable to visit for almost six months. That was really trying, and I think we have learned that it is not the correct approach. We need to reduce footfall in nursing homes as much as possible and we have to protect our older and vulnerable people, but they are lonely and afraid and want to see their loved ones as well.

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