Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I cannot help having a suspicious mind as to why a review is being held in the first place.

That said, the Minister of State's response is welcome. I sense that he, the Minister for Health and the health team are fully behind the midwifery-led unit, and that is clear in the response. This is an issue I feel passionate about. This is a terrific service which provides an option for women in maternity care, not just in County Cavan but throughout the Border region and in the midlands. As the Minister of State knows, it is Government policy to roll out midwifery-led units throughout the country. I have always had a sense that the midwifery unit in Cavan General Hospital does not have the support it should have, the backing the staff need or the promotion it deserves. I hope the Minister of State, Minister for Health and Department will do everything they can to close gaps that exist in terms of promoting the service, informing women and encouraging GPs to inform women to consider it as an option. It has been my sense heretofore that that has not been the case.

As is evident from the national maternity plan, and as the World Health Organization has stated, midwifery-led units provide good maternity care. I am all for women having options. There are eight midwifery-led units in the North. We should have quadruple that number on the island of Ireland. I will fly that flag for women in this country.

The Minister of State's response is welcome. I will follow up with him and the Minister for Health to ensure extra staffing is in put place to benefit the midwifery-led unit in Cavan General Hospital. I encourage the Minister of State to do anything he can to ensure the unit gets the support, backing and promotion it deserves because the staff there are second to none.

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