Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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339. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the introduction of anomaly scans at Cavan General Hospital; when the unit will open; the number of women who have accessed the service since its introduction; if all staff and equipment are now in place to roll out the service in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5429/18]

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. The Strategy will be implemented on a phased basis and this work will be led by the National Women and Infants Health Programme. In October last, I was pleased to launch the Programme's Implementation Plan for the Strategy. That Plan includes a number of actions to facilitate the provision by all maternity hospitals/units of dating and anomaly scans to all pregnant women. Indeed, the issue of anomaly scanning is a priority issue for the Programme and I am assured that it will continue to work with the six Hospital Groups to assist in increasing access to anomaly scans for those units with limited availability.

I can confirm that additional funding has been made available for anomaly scanning in 2018. In relation to the specific queries raised concerning Cavan General Hospital, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.