Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this question and it is not the first time she has raised it here. I have also heard the Deputy talk about it locally. As the Deputy has said, St. Monica's ward in University Hospital Galway was temporarily closed on 23 March this year, but I am pleased to report the ward reopened on 13 June. I reassure the Deputy that during this time all gynaecology patients were cared for in St. Angela's ward and we are aware of that. Experienced staff from St. Monica's ward provided care to the women in St. Angela's ward. In addition, women who experience a foetal loss were cared for in St. Catherine's antenatal ward by experienced midwives. No gynaecology surgeries were cancelled due to the ward closure or due to bed capacity during that time.

To answer the Deputy’s question I was not aware it was closed initially and now I am telling the Deputy it is open as of 13 June. In the answer I have and which the Deputy has, there is no reason given that ward closed so I cannot answer that question the Deputy asked me. As part of the Saolta University Health Care Group, University Hospital Galway is the Saolta model 4 hospital delivering emergency medicine, acute medicine and acute surgical and critical care 24 hours a day, seven days per week. It is one of the major teaching hospitals and it is partnered with the National University of Ireland, Galway. Since 2018, €3.1 million in funding has been provided for additional staff for women's health services in University Hospital Galway, and the Government is committed to promoting and improving women's health outcomes. It was only this morning that I read in our local newspaper about the menopause clinic that will be opening in September this year.

The HSE's national women's and infant's health programme has developed an ambulatory gynaecological model of care that centres on the establishment of one-stop see-and-treat ambulatory gynaecology clinics. The development of these clinics will help to improve access to gynaecological services, reduce the requirement for multiple gynaecological appointments and ensure sustainability of service provision into the future. Importantly, it will help to improve clinical outcomes. It is estimated that approximately 70% of general gynaecological referrals are suitable for management in this setting. The roll-out of this new model of care began in 2020 and at present nine of these clinics are operational, including the one in University Hospital Galway.

I confirm that St. Monica's ward has reopened and that the patients have been provided with care in other wards in the hospital. I apologise that the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, is not here himself to answer the question, but at the same time he has taken on board what the Deputy has raised here and he has asked questions on it. I am glad to see the outcome is this ward is operational again.

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