Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I, too, wish to raise the issue of maternity services. I acknowledge the work done in regard to Holles Street hospital and its colocation. I am thankful that the difficulties have finally been resolved. We now have a start date for applying for planning permission. It never should have taken nearly a year to get to that stage.

What is happening with Holles Street highlights the issue raised by Deputy Kelleher. Holles Street fought so hard to make sure it had control over its budget. Dr. Boylan says the budget has been eroded, unfortunately, and this is what happens when there is a maternity service attached to a general hospital. The first thing to go is anything to do with women's health care.

I have raised the issues of Holles Street and the Coombe, which is seeking €15 million to be invested in its operating theatres. The HIQA reports from both the Coombe and Holles Street hospitals, in addition to the rising concerns over CUMH, really highlight the need to ensure that when children are born in maternity hospitals, they are born in hospitals that are properly resources and managed and, above all, have a functioning board of governors to ensure long-term investment.

Since I came into the House, I have highlighted Holles Street and other maternity hospitals. I join Senator Kelleher in calling for a specific debate on maternity services. We need a debate on who becomes a member of a board, how the budgets are controlled and who controls them. We must also ensure the money being set aside by the taxpayer for investment in maternity services goes into maternity services and is not hived off for general hospitals and does not become used to fill the hole in the budget. This matter is far too important just to talk about a particular maternity hospital. We must look at them in their entirety, and we must ensure the investment is made. For heaven's sake, let us ensure that a newborn baby is born with the best possible outcomes and that the mother has the best health care service possible. We are not getting this at present. We really need to examine the structures, how boards of hospitals are being appointed and the control the boards have over their budgets.