Spin on Portiuncula maternity report misleading - Naughten

The political spin being put on the report into the review of maternity services at Portiuncula is grossly misleading and disingenuous, claims Denis Naughten TD.

“I have read the report this week and while the hospital management and the Health Minister are correct when they say 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,” stated Denis Naughten.

“Furthermore, the hospital group is currently in the process of performing a risk assessment on the various reconfiguration options, so clearly they are proceeding to explore these options.

“I cannot understand how the consultants could produce a report that comes out so negatively considering that it is the safest hospital, one of the most efficient and the second biggest in the hospital group.”

Minister Reilly told Seanad Éireann this week that “while the review on maternity services undertaken by the West-Northwest Hospital Group may stimulate debate and may help inform the strategy, any decision on maternity service reconfiguration will be taken on a national rather than on a local basis”.

“While it is correct to say that no decision has been made to close any unit, it is very hard to see how the service at Portiuncula can survive when this report has stacked all the cards against it. By the time it comes to a decision this report will have already caused damage to the reputation of Portiuncula Hospital, which will be hard to reverse.

“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 a that 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 Denis Naughten.