Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)

We are not in a good space because the maternity unit in Portiuncula hospital is in trouble. For example, it was recommended by the Walker report that there be seven consultant obstetricians. It never happened. There were five at the most: three full-time, one on managed leave and one on managed sick leave. There was never a full complement. Someone second-guessed the Walker report, so it was never implemented. Regarding infrastructure, the recommendation of a theatre in the labour ward did not happen. Who walked back the idea of one hospital, two sites, and why? I want to know why. Does the Minister have confidence in the clinical director regionally and the associate clinical director who was recently appointed? Are they the people who brought us to this juncture? Does the Minister have confidence that they will deliver us from it?

I was at a meeting with GPs last night with the clinical team. All I am seeing is confusion and shambles. One of the clinical directors said there was no evidence base for moving older women and women who were high-risk from Portiuncula hospital. They decided not to move people with diabetes at the last moment. They also decided that GPs would not risk stratify. They do not know what is going on. There is no clinical leadership and I want the Minister to make a statement on that.

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