Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to respond to my Commencement matter, which calls on the Minister for Health and the Department to commit to providing €2.5 million in funding for the Rotunda Hospital on Parnell Square in Dublin. For those who are not aware, the Rotunda Hospital is the world's oldest maternity hospital. It is the country's busiest maternity hospital. It delivers on average 8,000 babies a year. One in every six babies in the country is born at the Rotunda Hospital and one in every four neonatal babies is born in the Rotunda Hospital. It is not just a local hospital for me or the women in central Dublin, it is a hospital that serves women from throughout the country. Some of the most vulnerable of patients and the most complex of pregnancies are enabled and supported in the Rotunda Hospital.

It dates back to 1745 and as well as being a very busy maternity hospital delivering babies and caring for mothers, it receives 500 gynaecological referrals every month. A woman only gets referred for a gynaecological appointment after her routine appointment has thrown up some anomaly. There are more than 3,500 women on the waiting list for basic female health services. Far too many of them have been waiting for more than 12 months for an appointment. To my mind, and in the mind of the Government, it should be totally unacceptable that women in Dublin today would be waiting more than 12 months for a gynaecological appointment.

According to HIQA, the Rotunda Hospital building and infrastructure is overcrowded, out of date and not fit for purpose. Essentially, it delivers 21st century health services in 18th century facilities. Going back to 2018, I brought the then Fianna Fáil spokesperson for health, the now Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, to the Rotunda Hospital. Following our visit and lobbying by others, the then Minister, Deputy Harris, commissioned an independent report. KPMG completed that report and I understand it has been delivered to the Minister. The report examined nine different options to help deal with the overcrowding, lack of space, poor infrastructure and high risk of infection. It concluded the best option is the development of a new critical care wing on the west side of Parnell Square.

There is a one-storey outpatient department at present. The proposal is to demolish this and replace it with a fit-for-purpose critical care wing in a four storey building over a basement. It is considered the most cost-benefit advantageous solution with a 2:1 ratio. It would provide the greatest range of benefits and is consistent with the long-term plans for the Rotunda. To move the project forward next year will only cost an investment of €2.5 million. It is a very modest investment not just in the women, babies and mothers but also the 1,000 staff who work in the Rotunda Hospital. I was lucky enough to have my three babies in the Rotunda Hospital. Given the care provided to everybody when they walk in the door by the amazing security man, cleaners, doctors, nurses and midwives they deserve to be provided with fit for purpose facilities. The mothers and babies of Ireland deserve it too. I hope the Minister of State can give us some good news on this request.