Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

First, I wish to commend Deputy Connolly and her colleagues on bringing forward this motion. I agree with much of the sentiment that has already been expressed around the importance of having the national maternity hospital in public ownership and the fact that there should be no religious influence.

However, I want to take the opportunity to specifically focus on the maternity services situation in St. Luke's Hospital, which is based in Kilkenny, but provides services for the counties of Carlow and Kilkenny. There has been no easing of Covid-19 restrictions for expectant mothers in St. Luke's, for scan appointments, the labour and the birth. It is most important that the Minister looks into this issue directly. He must ensure that this hospital and these women are not left out.

The point has been made by others that pregnancy and childbirth is an important and exciting time, but it can also be a nerve-racking and scary time. It is important that women have their partners at their side not just for the labour and the birth, but also for the scan appointments. Some have referenced the 20-week anomaly scan as being significant, but I also think that some of the earlier scan appointments are important. Many women end up finding out that they have had a miscarriage when there has been no indication of a problem. They go in, have a scan and receive the very sad news that there is no heartbeat. That is devastating for people. Therefore, it must be ensured that these women can have someone with them at their appointments. It should not be the case that partners are left standing outside in the car park when a woman's whole world is falling apart. It must be ensured that those people are there.

If these were issues that affected a group of men, I doubt that we would be having this debate because the issues would have already been resolved. There was a good, well-organised protest - it was organised by a number of women - outside St. Luke's Hospital some weeks ago and I was struck by the fact that when one looks at the people who are making the decisions, with all due respect to the Minister, they are all men.

It is very important that women's issues, particularly women's health, are taken seriously. There have been countless debates about women's health in my time in this House since 2016, and there were debates well before that. There was the cervical screening situation, the problem with vaginal mesh and many other debates. There are many things that do not even get on the radar. Members may or may not have heard the recent discussions on Joe Duffy's radio programme about the menopause and the number of women who rang in who had no help or support and who were not given adequate information. Why is it always the case that when it comes to issues that affect women, and particularly their health, there is no information? It is the same with endometriosis. There is very little information, help or support. Women are being forced to go abroad. Women are suffering pain and agony for years and almost being made to feel that they are going crazy when they are told that this could not be happening or that it is something else. I know somebody very well who was on the verge of having her gall bladder removed. It was decided to carry out a last-minute scan. This person was in the gown and ready to go, but it was not the gall bladder at all. It was only then that it was decided it was endometriosis. It is actually ridiculous that we are discussing that level of lack of medical information. There is a shying away, not facing it and not knowing how to deal with it. It is not good enough for the women in this country.

I specifically ask the Minister to look at the situation in St. Luke's Hospital and in Carlow and Kilkenny. It is an excellent hospital and provides excellent care. At present, however, it is failing women who are expecting babies, who are struggling to get pregnant, and who are dealing with early miscarriage or the various situations one encounters. Then there is the labour, the birth and the level of visitation in the aftermath. I heard that some hospitals allow a 30-minute visit per day. That is not available in St. Luke's Hospital. Those issues must be examined. As I have the opportunity today to speak directly to the Minister, I appeal to him to examine that situation in particular.

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