Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 5: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans for dealing with the crises building up in maternity hospitals here in view of the inefficiencies built up in maternity hospitals regarding the long delays in accessing antenatal care for pregnant women and the ongoing industrial relations problems in Cork city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12268/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I am familiar with difficulties that have recently arisen both in Cork and in Drogheda regarding the provision of maternity services. As the House will be aware, the new state-of-the-art Cork University Maternity Hospital was due to open last Saturday but did not because of non co-operation on the part of the Irish Nurses Organisation, which has been claiming that midwifery staffing levels at the hospital would compromise patient safety. The HSE, together with medical consultant staff at the hospital and midwifery managers, are completely satisfied that the level of midwifery staffing currently available is sufficient for the safe opening of 128 of the 144 beds. The HSE has been in regular contact with midwives in the course of the week. It is encouraging that more than 300 midwives have attended orientation programmes at the new hospital during the week. The HSE has set a new date of Saturday next for the opening of the hospital. I sincerely hope that common sense will prevail in ensuring the facility is opened next Saturday.

In the case of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, my Department has been informed by the HSE that the number of women in the Louth-Meath region presenting for assessment during pregnancy has increased significantly in recent years. The projected figure for 2007 is more than 4,500, an increase of more than 100% since 2000 when approximately 2,100 women presented at the hospital. The HSE acknowledges this has placed additional pressure on services and has resulted in women having to wait longer than planned for assessment by a consultant obstetrician. My Department is advised that the HSE has recently approved 22 new midwife posts, two specialist nurse posts and three new consultant anaesthetist posts to relieve the current pressures. That will be closely monitored in the maternity unit at the hospital relative to demand.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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I also wish all the best for a resolution at Cork University Maternity Hospital. People were astonished to learn that this magnificent hospital could not open due to industrial relations difficulties. Does the Minister have concerns regarding poor management at HSE level? She might investigate why a major brand new hospital remained closed due to issues that would have been resolved well before the new project's opening in any well-managed organisation. Will she investigate to establish the exact difficulty to ensure best practice within the HSE?

The Minister should respond to the fact that an expert group, the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, produced a report on maternity hospitals last October that alerted her to serious staffing problems therein. The report produced last October made it clear that the basic infrastructure of maternity services is grossly inadequate and staffing problems exist across the board in that regard. Had the Minister taken action when the report was published, situations such as those affecting Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital probably would not have arisen.

I understand the Central Statistics Office brought out its final report today, which shows a highly significant increase in population. Although I cannot recall the exact figure, there has been an increase of approximately 400,000. This will affect metropolitan areas such as Cork and Dublin, as well as the regions surrounding them. No preparatory work has been done by the Minister, her Department or the HSE to meet this need, which explains the stresses and strains in Cork, as well as the spectacle of pregnant women waiting for five months before receiving full ante-natal care.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I am not familiar with the CSO figures that were released today as, in common with the Deputy, I have been very busy. However, the population is undoubtedly increasing in the eastern region in particular, which puts pressure on the system. I understand the number of births in County Louth has doubled in a six-year period, which constitutes a considerable increase.

As for Cork University Maternity Hospital, while efforts were made at local level to resolve the issue, eventually it ended up going through all the State's industrial relations machinery. The Labour Court recommended that it should open and staffing levels were recommended and have been agreed. The ratio of midwives to births in the Cork hospital will be 1:23, while the equivalent ratio in the National Maternity Hospital is 1:32. The director of midwifery and the obstetricians there have stated that it was safe. While I do not wish to say anything that might inflame the situation, I hope the difficulty can be resolved and that the hospital can be opened next Saturday. One of the issues to be addressed is the speed at which the required additional staff can be recruited.

The report from the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in respect of nationwide maternity services has many good features. I have read the report, which suggests that all existing maternity units should be retained. This came as a surprise because previous advice from obstetricians did not seem to take that view. In recent years, insurance issues and other factors led to the closure of maternity units in locations such as Dundalk, based on patient safety and best practice.

It is clear that the number of consultants, including obstetricians, in the health care system must be greatly increased. Undoubtedly, their number must be doubled. Other staff are also required, which is why a new contract with consultants is particularly important in order that recruitment may take place. While I am aware it does not affect the recruitment of nurses and midwives, it certainly affects the recruitment of doctors and substantially more must be recruited in both anaesthetics and obstetrics.