HSE Told Approach To Easing Restrictions At Maternity Hospitals Not Sufficiently Robust.

Wednesday, 23 June 2021 11:25

Units in Tipperary, Kilkenny & Wexford "old" and not built for infection control.

The HSE has been told that it's approach to easing restrictions in maternity hospitals is not strong enough.

The health service says the three maternity units that were not fully compliant with its guidelines on access for partners are putting "work-arounds" in place.

The Oireachtas Health Committee, on which sits Kildare North Fine Gael TD, Bernard Durkan, has heard that the units in Kilkenny, Tipperary and Wexford are old and not built for infection control.

However Fianna Fail TD John Lahart pointed out that he has been contacted by constituents attending Dublin-based units who say that they've been left without their partner.

#OireachtasTV - Watch LIVE as the Joint Committee on Health meets to discuss An update on the cyber-attack, the Covid-19 vaccination rollout and the current Covid-19 restrictions in Maternity Hospitals with @HSELive #seeforyourself https://t.co/OM4LMB9ODv https://t.co/5qGhM4DjEO
— Houses of the Oireachtas - Tithe an Oireachtais (@OireachtasNews) June 23, 2021

The HSE says all 19 maternity units are fully compliant with guidance on partner access.

However politicians are disputing this, claiming many constituents are still contacting them to raise issues.

Kacey O'Riordan reports;

HSE Chief Clinical Officer Dr Colm Henry says the guidelines on partner access will be amended this week.
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