Chairman of Hospital group steps down amid conflict of interest claims

The chairman of the West/North West Hospitals Group, Noel Daly, has stepped down. His resignation came after it emerged that he was a shareholder in the private healthcare firm that carried out the review of the region's maternity services which led to fears over the possible removal of such services from Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe.

In a statement last night, Mr Daly said he stepped down because he did not want his personal and professional reputation, or that of the group, to be compromised in any way.

Local TD Denis Naughten today stated that, following Mr Daly's resignation, the report on the future of maternity services at Portiuncula should be scrapped.

“This report was flawed right from its inception, and cannot in any guise form part of any further consideration of the future of maternity services at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe” said the Independent TD.

'This report has serious questions hanging over it and I have previously stated that 'I cannot understand how the consultants could produce a report that comes out so negatively considering that (Portiuncula) is the safest hospital, one of the most efficient and the second biggest in the hospital group.''

“The political spin being put on the report into the review of maternity services at Portiuncula is that while the hospital management and the Health Minister are correct when they state that no decision has been made on which option is to be implemented, the fact is that all options - except a 'do nothing option' which has been dismissed by the consultants - involve the closure of the obstetrical-led maternity unit at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe,' he said.

Deputy Naughten said it was clear that the review of maternity services had 'stacked all the cards' against the maternity services at Portiuncula and this had been damaging.

'Some expectant mothers are now concerned that if they attend maternity services at Portiuncula that they will find the doors closed when their baby is due to be delivered. However while the decision may be imminent it is important to realise that implementation of (such) a decision is still a number of years away. People must come together now to ensure this process is stopped in its tracks before there is any further reputational damage caused to Portiuncula Hospital,' concluded Deputy Naughten.