Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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198. To ask the Minister for Health if an application for resources to provide a 20 week anomaly scan at Mullingar regional hospital has been approved by his Department. [22549/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The National Maternity Strategy is very clear that all women must have equal access to standardised ultrasound services and, consequently, the issue of anomaly scanning is a priority issue for the newly established HSE National Women & Infants Health Programme. An early priority for the Programme will be to develop clinical guidance regarding routine detailed scans at 20 weeks. In the meantime, the Programme will continue to work with the six Hospital Groups to assist in increasing access to anomaly scans for those units with limited availability.

One of the current challenges to increase access to anomaly scans is the recruitment of ultrasonographers. In this context, it is expected that the establishment of Maternity Networks across Hospital Groups will assist in developing a sustainable model that ensures that all women within each Hospital Group can access anomaly scans. In relation to your specific query regarding the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.