Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)

I thank Senator O’Loughlin for this opportunity to address the House today on behalf of the Minister for Health regarding the provision of community midwifery services in Athy by the maternity unit at Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise. I endorse what the Senator said about Kfm. I had the privilege of representing Kildare in the European Parliament for five years. I am well aware of the huge value of the community service provided by Kfm.

Coming back to the Senator's question, the Government recognises the critical role midwives play in the delivery of safe, nationally consistent and woman-centred maternity care. The Minister for Health understands the disruption and distress that the interruption of this service may have caused to women in the area. I think all of us here today do as well. The Minister would like to reassure the Deputy and the women attending this service that measures have been put in place to resume it.The midwifery service provided in Athy Primary Care Centre is a midwifery-led, antenatal satellite service from Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise for women with normal-risk pregnancies. The service was temporarily paused last week to facilitate unplanned staff leave. The HSE has confirmed that the midwifery-led antenatal clinics will be operating as normal from this week in Athy Primary Care Centre and Portarlington Primary Care Centre. Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise has been contacting affected women directly about this matter. The HSE has provided assurances that all efforts will be made to continue with the midwifery-led community clinics without interruption, including enhancing recruitment of the midwifery workforce.

This Government recognises the importance of midwifery and community care. This has been underpinned by significant investment in services, both in Portlaoise and nationally. The national maternity strategy is moving into its final years. A total of €28 million in new development funding has been invested through the strategy since 2016. This has enabled the total recruitment of more than 530 full-time staff across the country. These staff and this investment improve women's lives every day. Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise has directly benefited from investment through the national maternity strategy. Since 2018, 12.5 additional whole-time equivalent staff have been funded at the unit through the strategy, including nine whole-time equivalent midwives and midwife specialists. The unit has benefited from over €150,000 in capital investment through the strategy since 2020, including funding for a home away from home birthing room, scanning equipment and neonatal support equipment. I have a little more to say but will wait for the Senator's response.