Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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608. To ask the Minister for Health if he will commission a fully independent hospital wide review of VBAC counselling at Lourdes hospital, rather than the HSE managed review of an individual case with no start or completion date and no review of any of the other cases, despite the fact that its own limited audit of 2011 cases highlighted over 50% of cases had no documentation of the risks of VBAC being discussed. [26670/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The individual case referred to has been the subject of correspondence between the family involved, the HSE and the Department of Health. The Deputy National Director, Acute Hospitals Division, HSE is dealing directly with the concerns raised. As a result of this I have referred this matter to the HSE to respond to you directly.

A new model of care has been developed for maternity services within the National Maternity Strategy which was launched in January 2016. The Strategy recommends that services should be woman-centred and provide integrated, team-based care, with women seeing the most appropriate professional, based on their need. This will ensure that specialist care will be available to women as required.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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609. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the HSE's apparent widespread failure to counsel on the risks of VBAC to enable persons to make an informed birthing choice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26671/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The National Maternity Strategy, which was launched last January, espouses a new model of maternity care. The Strategy recommends that services should be woman-centred and provide integrated, team-based care, with women seeing the most appropriate professional, based on need. Central to the Strategy is the need for women to have access to all the necessary information, in a readily understandable format, to allow then to make informed choices regarding their care.

In relation to the specific query raised in relation to VBAC counselling, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.