Parents deserve truth now not next year!

The disclosure today that the Portiuncula Hospital maternity inquiry has been delayed until the end of the year has been branded as “unacceptable” by local TD, Denis Naughten.

“This issue has now been ongoing within the Saolta Group for nearly 12 months, yet parents first found out about concerns through the media, earlier this year” said Denis Naughten

He continued by stating “now we find that not only is the ‘five month inquiry’ to be delayed until the end of the year, but that one of the inquiry team has not been replaced since they resigned last April”

“Again this delay raises serious concerns about what is the true agenda behind this inquiry”.

“Just last year, the Saoilta Hospital Group was forced to withdraw a plan which would have seen the maternity unit at Portiuncula Hospital, closed”.

“The genuine fear is that this inquiry is being delayed to undermine the credibility of a maternity service, which has been seen to be one of the leading maternity services in the country”.

“The parents at the centre of this inquiry deserve answers, as do the staff at the hospital and the parents who are about to use the service; and they need them now, not in 2016!”

“For those parents planning to avail of maternity services in Portiuncula, it is important to point out that ongoing external reviews of the maternity service has shown that there  are no continuing issues of concern”.

“In the interests of all involved I would again reiterate my call for the investigation to be independent, transparent and seen to be independent of other medical agendas,” concluded Denis Naughten.