Minister must end the ambiguity from HSE in relation to Rotunda co-location
Minister must end the ambiguity from HSE in relation to Rotunda co-location - The Labour Party
- HSE and Minister failed to do the bare minimum and submit an observation to clarify current co-location policy in relation to the Rotunda.
- Clinical structures between Mater and Rotunda are intensifying: co-location is essentially happening here.
- Minister and HSE failed to clarify what the future of the Rotunda is, giving rise to a decision based on an unclear policy: we need clarity as to the short-, medium-, and long-term future of The Rotunda.
- Deputy Sherlock to organise a rally for the Rotunda and maternity services in Dublin on International Women’s Day.
Labour Health Spokesperson Marie Sherlock TD has called on the HSE to make it clear what the short- and medium-term future of the Rotunda is and that the Rotunda will be remaining in Dublin 1.
Speaking following the Oireachtas Health Committee meeting on maternity services, Deputy Sherlock said:
“The HSE’s response to questions regarding co-location of the Rotunda were as a clear as mud. The HSE would not clarify at all what the current policy is in relation to the supposed co-location of the Rotunda to Connolly Hospital. We are continuing to hear that co-location of the Rotunda is in early stages of planning but there is no plan. The HSE is at sixes and sevens and the confusion has led to this decision by An Coimisiún Pleanála.
“While I fully agree with the principle of co-location to ensure the highest standard of care to women to women and babies, at present, there is little justification for the co-location of the Rotunda with Connolly as Connolly continues to be a Model 3 Hospital. The Rotunda has been intensifying its clinical relationship and blue-light corridor with the Mater, a model 4 hospital.
“The Rotunda asked the Department to clarify the future of the Rotunda in Parnell Square last year and it appears to me that the Department simply ignored that requested. The Minister and the Department did not undertake the bare minimum to submit an observation on the planning appeal which would have brought clarity to the policy upon which the refusal was based.
“The Minister and the HSE must take responsibility for this mess. The Department failed to make clear the short- and medium-term future of the Rotunda. That must now happen.
“The Minister must move heaven and earth to ensure that this critical care wing is built. I welcome that the HSE Capital Plan has committed to enabling works for the critical care wing – but that will not happen without Government intervention.
“Too many women are giving birth to babies in inferior facilities. We cannot have a situation where decades pass before the Rotunda has adequate facilities.
“Anything less would be allowing the Rotunda to further decay and put the Rotunda in a situation where it would be forced to co-locate to have adequate facilities, removing almost three hundred years of maternity care from Parnell Square. And that makes no sense with a projected declining birth rate.
“On International Women’s Day, March 8th at 12 midday, we will host a rally to support the Rotunda and maternity services in our city. It is simply shambolic that women are yet again having to fight for adequate health care. The HSE and Minister must clarify the co-location policy urgently.”