Delays to maternity hospital slammed

THERE have been calls for construction to begin on the new National Maternity Hospital as a matter of urgency.

According to Labour Party Senator and spokesperson on Dublin, Kevin Humphreys, plans for the new facility have been delayed in a dispute over who should have governance control at the proposed site on the campus of St Vincent’s Hospital.

Speaking in the Seanad last week, Senator Humphreys expressed frustration that there had been no movement on the matter since he last raised it during the summer.

“The Minister for Health, Simon Harris, appointed a mediator after I raised this matter last June,” Senator Humphreys said. 

“I understand it is a voluntary hospital and when Minister Harris was in the House in June, he said he did not have a plan B. 

“That is not an excuse. The mediator has been working since June but we have heard no result.

 Senator Humphreys also pointed out that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) had presented what he termed a “damning report on Holles Street hospital – not on the staff but on the conditions, including overcrowding”.

“There are 10 delivery wards for nearly 10,000 births when one should have at least 24 delivery wards,” Senator Humphreys added. 

“What is planned for the new hospital is 24 delivery wards for a demand of 10,000 births.

 “Only down the road, Holles Street is struggling with 10 delivery wards for 9,000 births.

“It is no longer acceptable that we should have a turf war between two hospitals that is affecting the health of and good outcomes for our children, and for women who go into that hospital to deliver babies.”

A spokesperson for the Minister for Health said the mediation process to agree a future governance structure for the co-located hospitals was expected to conclude shortly.

“The minister is strongly committed to this project and remains hopeful that the difficulties can be resolved,” the spokesperson added. 

“However, as both hospitals are voluntary independent hospitals, the minister is not in a position to impose a solution.”

Major changes are afoot for Dublin’s maternity hospitals on the Southside, with the Coombe set to relocate to the St James’s Hospital campus.