Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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335. To ask the Minister for Health the additional resources which have been made available for other hospitals who will see a transfer of maternity care in order to manage additional births. [54415/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The safety and quality of our maternity services are of critical importance to the women and families who use them, as well as to this Government.

Portiuncula University Hospital (PUH) plays a vital role in delivering high-quality healthcare services to women.

There are already well-established pathways for the transfer of complex or high-risk pregnancies within the regional maternity network in the HSE West North West Region, which includes PUH and Galway University Hospital (GUH).

Following the publication of the summary report into the care of babies at PUH, an on-site team is overseeing the transfer of care for a group of higher-risk pregnancies to GUH or to another hospital of the woman’s choice.

The reconfiguration of maternity services in PUH to move higher-risk pregnancies off the site will mean that some women who previously attended PUH will now need to travel to GUH or other units for certain aspects of their maternity care. It is acknowledged that this change may create additional travel demands for expectant mothers and their families. The HSE West and North West, through the work of the Implementation Team, are considering what contingencies and supports can reasonably be put in place to assist women affected. The Implementation Team is working to ensure seamless transfer and care.

The HSE is also ensuring sufficient capacity at GUH. This includes additional recruitment and creating dedicated maternity theatre space. A business case has been developed, and the HSE has advised that priority posts have been identified and are progressing through the standard HSE recruitment process. The HSE has also advised that this remains a live business case, subject to further requirements. From October 1st additional capacity has been secured in the main theatre complex in GUH to ensure additional gynaecology theatre capacity is available, enabling more dedicated maternity theatre access. A maternal medicine clinic has also been established in GUH, and is now accepting all referrals made from PUH.

Longer-term, a plan is also in development to create a Level 4 campus at GUH, focusing on several key developments, including improvements to the maternity unit.

This work will continue to progress over the coming months. Close monitoring is continuing within both the HSE and the Department of Health. This includes monitoring of bookings at PUH and other nearby maternity units, to ensure sufficient capacity.