Additional expert staffing for Cavan MLU
Much of the latest update came on foot of a Dáil back-and-forth prompted by a question tabled by local Fianna Fail TD, Niamh Smyth.
A “initial assessment” extending from a report on the future of the Midwifery-Led Unit at Cavan General has recommended the service be expanded further, and bolstered even with additional expertise.
A part-time senior external clinician has now been assigned, and is set to commence work at the Cavan hospital MLU on an average of two days per week.
The appointee, identified from within the existing Rotunda Hospital consultant complement, will begin work “in the coming months”.
The position is understood to be in addition to the National Women and Infants Health Programme's deicison to fund an Advanced Midwifery Practitioner at Cavan General to provide additional senior midwifery expertise and capability.
The full report into MLU services at Cavan General, which was due to be finalised at the of October, and is now several weeks overdue, will now not appear on the Minister's desk until December at the earliest, The Anglo-Celt understands.
Much of the latest update came on foot of a Dáil back-and-forth prompted by a question tabled by local Fianna Fail TD, Niamh Smyth.
Addressing Minister for State at the Department for Health, Frank Feighan, standing in for Minister Stephen Donnelly, Deputy Smyth voiced disappointment at the June decision taken to try merge the unit with the existing consultant-led service.
The decision to merge local maternity services was initially recommended from within the RCSI Group.
No new cases were to be admitted from June 1. But within a matter of days, and following public outcry, the proposal was put on 'pause'.
The MLU at Cavan General is one of only two MLUs in the country- alongside Drogheda.
“It did not come in writing and nobody can tell me who gave the order, or anything like that, but a directive was given last June to staff within the midwifery-led unit to stop taking bookings,” said Deputy Smyth.
The result saw then Minister for Health Simon Harris rush to defend the government's commitment to the National Maternity Strategy, which recommends the expansion of MLU's nationally as a critical pillar.
Minister Harris also spoke with a deputation of midwives at Cavan General directly, and gave them assurances there would be no diminution of service locally.
“Clarity, guidance and direction are needed in terms of where that is going, what is its purpose and who has requested it,” continued Deputy Smyth.
In response, Minister Feighan reiterated the commitment to ensuring midwifery-led services continue at the Cavan hospital.
“The Department was not advised of any intention to merge the services at the hospital or, indeed, of any intended change to the arrangements that had been in place,” he said of last June's proposed merger. “Current Government policy is to provide and expand midwifery-led maternity care right across the country, including in Cavan.”
He acknowledged with regard to the situation in Cavan, the Deputy that the Department requested the National Women and Infants Health Programme to engage with RCSI Hospital Group to provide a report on the matter.
“Assurances were also sought that maternity services within the RCSI Hospital Group are, and will continue to be, developed in line with Government policy,” said Minister Feighan.
In the meantime, the Department has been assured that the midwifery-led service will continue operating as normal and that bookings are being accepted from women wishing to avail of it.
A spokesperson for the Department for Health confirmed to The Anglo-Celt last week that it had “recently been advised” by the HSE's Clinical Officer that the RCSI Hospital Group has undertaken an “initial assessment” of the Cavan MLU service.
They added in a separate reply that the position of an Advanced Midwifery Practitioner is contained within funding provided for in Budget 2021.
“The findings from that assessment indicate that if the service is to continue and indeed expand, the input and support of a senior, external clinician will be required. A clinician has been identified from within the existing Rotunda Hospital consultant complement and will commence working and attending Cavan General for an average of two days per week in the coming months.”
In the meantime, the department spokesperson said the MLU in Cavan will “continue operating operating as normal” and that bookings are being accepted.
“The Department will work with the National Women and Infants Health Programme to ensure that any additional supports required to ensure that any additional supports required to secure and expand community midwifery services in Cavan, will be put in place. This will ensure that midwifery led services at Cavan are supported, strengthened and expanded, in line with the National Maternity Strategy.”