Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Given that information, I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this particular Commencement Matter. I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Harris, on becoming Minister for Health and thank him for attending to deal with this extremely important issue, which is the situation in respect of the co-location of the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, with St. Vincent's University Hospital in Elm Park.

I am disappointed because this is an issue which has been running since I was on the board of the National Maternity Hospital in 1999. At that stage, it was expected that the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, would move to the St. Vincent's University Hospital campus within ten years. It is now 2016 and there is a problem, which was not flagged before at any stage, relating to the governance of the hospital and the moving of the hospital is now in danger.The National Maternity Hospital at Holles Street was built in the 1800s. A total of 9,500 babies are delivered in very cramped outdated conditions, putting mothers' and babies' health, if not their lives, at risk because of the conditions in that hospital. The staff do a fantastic job and give a very high standard of care.

We face a turf war between two hospitals in the form of an argument over a budget. I do not believe this argument is about the health and well-being of up to 10,000 babies or their mothers, nor is it an argument about the quality of care. In Holles Street there are ten delivery wards where 9,500 babies are delivered. There should be 24 delivery wards for that number. There are knock-on implications.

I very much welcome that the Minister has appointed a mediator. I hope that is successful. I have raised this on a personal basis and I know the Minister’s personal commitment to it and that much of this is outside his control. I urge him to consider his next step if the mediation is not successful because we cannot allow up to 10,000 babies to be delivered in a hospital that was built in the 1800s. That has a real negative and possibly detrimental impact on the babies and mothers who deliver them in an outdated facility. I look forward to the Minister's response.