O’Reilly demands meeting with HSE regarding MLU position
Michael Cryan
One of Cavan’s most outspoken councillors has demanded a meeting with the HSE regarding the proposed reduction of services provided in the Midwifery Lead Unit (MLU) at Cavan General Hospital. It is one of only two such units in the country.
According to Cllr Shane P. O’Reilly the plans include a proposal to close the MLU unit and to convert it to a non-maternity related surgical day ward.
The Mullagh representative was angry at the proposal and wants clarification on the issue.
He claimed that the work done by the staff in the unit was second to none. 'The staff don’t get half the credit they deserve,' he maintained.
What annoyed the Fianna Fáil member was the fact there had been no consultation between the interested groups. No contact had been made with the North East Health women’s network team or Birth Matters, a voluntary organisation in Cavan, he further claimed.
Speaking at the April meeting of Cavan County Council, Cllr O’Reilly said they could be proud of Cavan General Hospital and the maternity services provided.
'We have people travelling from Longford, Leitrim, Monaghan and parts of Meath coming to use the maternity services in Cavan,' he said. He demanded an urgent meeting with the newly appointed HSE area manager, Leo Kinsella.
Shercock member John O’Hare agreed with his colleague that the MLU was an excellent service and he would not like to see a downgrading of its services.
Sinn Féin’s Grainne Brady from Brusky stated there should be consultation with the relevant people. Councillors Niamh Smith and Patricia Walsh also supported their colleague, while the council agreed to write to Mr Kinsella regarding the matter.
HSE denies closure of unit
Meanwhile, the HSE has issued a statement dismissing rumours that the unit is to be cut. 'The Cavan & Monaghan Hospital Group can confirm that the Midwifery Led Unit (MLU) service based in Cavan General Hospital is not being closed or reduced.
'The location of the MLU and other patient services is currently under review. This is being done to ensure that all available clinical space is put to optimum use,' it read.
A report, released in early 2010, concluded that midwifery-led care was as safe as consultant-led care, resulted in less intervention, gave birthing mothers greater satisfaction and overall was more cost-effective.
The study was carried out in the MLU in Cavan General from 2004 to 2007. Cavan, along with Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda participated in the project, which involved 1,653 women having babies in the HSE North-Eastern region during the period concerned. The project was commissioned by the Health Services Executive (HSE) and conducted by the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin.
The model of care used in MLUs is one where midwives, working in partnership with the woman, are the lead professional. They provide care in pregnancy, shared with the woman’s GP if desired, and refer any problems to the GP or obstetrician as necessary. When the woman commences labour, she comes to the MLU, which is a separate unit within the maternity hospital, and is welcomed into her private room where she stays for the labour, birth and postnatal resting time. Each room has a bed, pull-out couch for her partner to sleep on, a birthing pool, birthing aids, television, and tea/coffee-making facilities available.
Women’s satisfaction with the facilities were apparent in the study with 85% of those attending the MLUs said they would recommend the care they had received to a friend, compared with 70% of those having usual care.
Although facilities in the MLUs are considered quite luxurious, the cost of care for each woman was €332.80 less than in the usual hospital system.