Tuesday 18th February 2014
Denis Naughten has called on the Minister for Health to clarify the position regarding the future of maternity services at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe.
This comes in the wake of claims that a review into maternity services in the West/Northwest Hospitals Group will recommend the closure of three maternity units across the region with only units at Galway University Hospital and Letterkenny General Hospital being retained.
“The Minister must provide immediate clarity on the future of Portiuncula Hospital’s maternity unit,” stated Denis Naughten. “Any reconfiguration that would see the removal of maternity services from the hospital must be opposed.
“Such a move would have serious implications including placing the health of both mothers and babies at risk and would also threaten the status of the hospital itself. The report commissioned by the Hospital Group must be published immediately and I am calling on the Minister for Health to clarify the situation regarding the future of maternity services in Portiuncula Hospital in particular.”