Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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793. To ask the Minister for Health if there is a maternity care Covid-19 taskforce to deal with such care during the Covid-19 crisis; and if not, the reason therefor. [26415/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is engaging regularly with the HSE’s National Women and Infants Health Programme in relation to COVID-19 related issues in maternity services.

The Programme, which was established to lead the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services across primary, community and acute care, is working with the Clinical Leads for Maternity/Women’s Health and Directors of Midwifery in each of the six Hospital Groups on COVID-19 related issues.

The Programme has provided assurance that the midwifery and obstetric community are committed to ensuring that the impact of COVID-19 on the pregnancy and birthing experience of every women should be kept to an absolute minimum.  

The Deputy may wish to note that the Programme has developed a guidance document on restrictions in maternity hospitals/units and this issued to all maternity services last week. The paper seeks to ensure a consistent national approach to visitor restrictions, as far as is practicable and having due regard to local circumstances.  Each maternity service / network has been requested to review visiting arrangements on a weekly basis, in the context of the issues and factors identified in the paper.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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794. To ask the Minister for Health the current staffing ratio for maternity care; if the birth rate plus standard for midwifery staffing has been reached; and if not, the reason therefor. [26416/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.