Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 47: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the plans in place to strengthen the capacity of maternity hospitals here to address the growing demand on their services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2732/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The number of births last year was over 70,000. The Health Service Executive Service Plan for 2008 estimates that the number of births for the year will be nearly 73,000.

The transformation of maternity services nationally is a key project within the HSE Transformation Programme. As part of this work, an independent review of maternity and gynaecology services in the greater Dublin area is being undertaken by external consultants and is due to be completed shortly. The review will set out recommendations and provide an action plan to facilitate the best model for primary, community and hospital services and workforce requirements. The review will also help to inform decisions on the most appropriate model of care for the future delivery of maternity and gynaecology services in Dublin.

My Department is advised by the HSE that a range of capital improvements aimed at enhancing maternity services nationally have been put in place or are currently in train as follows:

The establishment of the National Epidemiology Centre in 2006 to facilitate the monitoring of all data from Irish maternity units with the aim of improving clinical services for mothers and babies.

The opening of the new Cork University Maternity Hospital in March 2007 saw the amalgamation of Cork's three existing hospitals on the one site.

A capital grant of €15m has been approved for Wexford General Hospital to meet the cost of upgrading the obstetric and gynaecological service.

At the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar the obstetric/gynaecology ward including delivery suite is being upgraded.

A capital project to provide a new upgraded special care baby unit is being commissioned at Portiuncula Hospital.

A capital grant of €3m has been approved to carry out infrastructural improvements at the Rotunda Hospital.

€15m has been approved in principle to provide enhanced facilities at the National Maternity Hospital.