Cavan Gen MLU review due this month

The MLU at Cavan General is one of only two MLUs in the country- alongside Drogheda.

A review concerning the future of the Midwidery Led Unit (MLU) at Cavan General Hospital is due for completion and destined for the desk of the Minister for Health later this month.

The review is being conducted within the RCSI Hospital Group, led by the Group Clinical Director for Maternity Services in conjunction with the Directors of Midwifery from Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda and the Rotunda Hospitals.

It came about following a threat to merge the MLU in Cavan with that of consultancy-led services at the hospital earlier this year.

However, public and political backlash to the proposal forced an apparant u-turn on the decision, particularly given that the rollout of midwidery services is a tenant contained within National Maternity Strategy (2016-2020).

The Strategy, launched by former Taoiseach and Minister for Health Leo Varadkar, sets out a pathway for the development and expansion of midwifery services at maternity hospitals nationally through the provision of a midwifery led model of care.

The MLU at Cavan General is one of only two MLUs in the country- alongside Drogheda.

Then Minister Harris and the department admitted to having been blind-sided by the decision taken to merge local maternity services, which was initially recommended from within the RCSI Group, to which Cavan General is attached.

No new cases were being admitted from June 1. But within a matter of days, and following public outcry at the decision, the proposal to merge services was put on 'pause'.

The review is to 'consider' the necessary enhancements of models of care within the hospital's maternity units, and also 'devise an implementation plan' for additional needs if required.

Last year 211 expectant mothers passed through the MLU, with 74 births out of a total 1,377 at the local hospital.

In 2018, there were 1,512 births, of which 95 were in the MLU.

Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith says he was informed by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly this week that the Department of Health will work with the National Women & Infants Health Programme to ensure that any additional supports requested in Cavan “will be put in place”.

“He also added that this will ensure that the choice of the Supported Care pathway remains available to women attending Cavan General Hospital for maternity services,” said Deputy Smith of the commitment given by the Minister.

“Once the full report has been received, the Department will work with the National Women & Infants Health Programme to ensure that any additional supports which are required to secure the future of community midwifery services in Cavan, will be put in place. This will ensure that the choice of the Supported Care pathway remains available to women attending CGH for maternity services,” said the Minister to Deputy Smith.

“It is envisaged that the review will be completed by September 2020. In the meantime, the MLU at Cavan General Hospital is currently operating as normal and bookings are being accepted from women wishing to avail of the service,” concluded Minister Donnelly.