Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Health. I wish to comment on public service community radio. We have a great radio station in Kildare, Kfm. It provides an important public service. That was how I first heard of this particular situation. Some of the women impacted contacted me afterwards. There is a new modern primary day healthcare centre in Athy which provides a great service, including a postpartum service for new mothers. This is important to facilitate checkups for baby and mother, to begin the vaccination programme and to deal with things like breastfeeding support and postnatal depression support. It is a vulnerable time for mams and children. People quite suddenly received texts cancelling their appointments in Athy, in some cases with less than 24 hours' notice. They were told they had to travel to Portlaoise hospital instead. This also impacted women in Monasterevin because they were attending a clinic in Portarlington that was also cancelled. Many mums may need someone else to drive them or may have to organise babysitting for their other children. During a vulnerable time, it is a real shock to get a text cancelling a service like this out of the blue. The response we are getting is that it is because of staff shortages. Children and postpartum women should be a priority. There is no timeline for when the service will recommence in Athy and in Portarlington. It supports new mums in Portarlington and Monasterevin. When can we expect this vital and important service to recommence? Is there anything available to support them in the meantime, such as transport for those who do not have access to private transport? Public transport between Athy and Portlaoise is practically non-existent. If this will continue for a time, I propose that transport arrangements be put in place. It should not have happened, especially with such little notice to mums. Getting a text when you are prepared and have put arrangements in place to say that you have to go to another place is not acceptable. Portlaoise is a large town and the hospital is dealing with its own patients. There is a concern that there will be long delays for mams and their babies. It is not good enough. The women I represent in Athy and Monasterevin deserve better. I look forward to hearing the response from the Minister's office and the Department.