Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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618. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider the introduction of a single clinical guideline for the use of Oxytocin during labour as advocated for by the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the clinical strategies and programmes division of the HSE. [22262/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026 sets out a roadmap for the future delivery of maternity services in Ireland and recommends a risk-based approach to inform the use of three care pathways. The Strategy states that, in determining the new model of care, patient safety is the first and overriding principle. Integral to this are guidelines to assess and place women in the appropriate risk category which will ensure that their care is managed their care in line with best evidence.

To this end, the Strategy underlines that this new model of care will be underpinned by evidence-based guidelines which will provide the necessary patient safety assurances, and help to ensure consistency in practice across the country.

The Strategy recommended that the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee (NCEC) prioritises a set of National Clinical Guidelines for maternity services.

The NCEC which is a Ministerial Committee has commenced the commissioning of these guidelines. It is intended that the maternity guidelines will prioritise intrapartum care and will include a guideline on oxytocin use during labour.

The guidelines once complete will be quality assured by the NCEC to ensure that they have been developed to an international standard. They will be submitted to the Chief Medical Officer and the Minister for approval in order that they become mandated for full implementation across all maternity services.