Two more reviews completed on Portiuncula maternity unit
While the response acknowledged the completion of two additional reviews and the increased number of recommendations, it merely stated that implementation would proceed 'over the coming months'.
To date, Deputy Kerrane has received no further updates from the HSE or Health Minister.
The direction for the hospital's future, according to the ministerial response, will require an 'extensive evidence base, of which an extensive review of the implementation of the current National Maternity Strategy will form part'.
Deputy Kerrane expressed concern about the ongoing lack of clarity around future plans for PUH, particularly regarding efforts 'to ensure a full return of maternity services'.
'This roadmap is essential to ensuring the current reduction in services is not seen as a permanent solution and the hospital can continue to serve our community. This prolonged uncertainty is completely unacceptable, especially for pregnant women, who, as long as this situation continues, will have to travel further to have their babies.'
The Irish Independent reported recently on the Galway County councillors call to the HSE and the health minister requesting a 'fully independent, external review' of the hospital.
The councillors urged a broader evaluation of the hospital, placing it within a 'contextual service' framework alongside other maternity services nationwide.
Initial recommendations in the first five reviews suggested diverting high-risk pregnancies to other hospitals, such as University Hospital Galway (UHG).
This has raised concerns among local residents and councillors, as PUH serves communities across counties Tipperary, Offaly, and Clare. Questions have since been raised about the infrastructure and readiness of the hospitals expected to take on these patients, along with safety risks for women facing emergencies during labour.
Deputy Kerrane is calling on the HSE to use the meeting to present a clear 'roadmap' and offer 'much needed assurances' that the diversion of high-risk pregnancies is only a temporary measure.
Additionally, a petition to preserve and enhance existing maternity services at PUH has already gathered over 3,000 signatures.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
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Irish Independent
11 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Two more reviews completed on Portiuncula maternity unit
In response to a parliamentary question from TD Claire Kerrane, Health Minister stated that the hospital and the safety of maternity patients are of 'critical importance'. While the response acknowledged the completion of two additional reviews and the increased number of recommendations, it merely stated that implementation would proceed 'over the coming months'. To date, Deputy Kerrane has received no further updates from the HSE or Health Minister. The direction for the hospital's future, according to the ministerial response, will require an 'extensive evidence base, of which an extensive review of the implementation of the current National Maternity Strategy will form part'. Deputy Kerrane expressed concern about the ongoing lack of clarity around future plans for PUH, particularly regarding efforts 'to ensure a full return of maternity services'. 'This roadmap is essential to ensuring the current reduction in services is not seen as a permanent solution and the hospital can continue to serve our community. This prolonged uncertainty is completely unacceptable, especially for pregnant women, who, as long as this situation continues, will have to travel further to have their babies.' The Irish Independent reported recently on the Galway County councillors call to the HSE and the health minister requesting a 'fully independent, external review' of the hospital. The councillors urged a broader evaluation of the hospital, placing it within a 'contextual service' framework alongside other maternity services nationwide. Initial recommendations in the first five reviews suggested diverting high-risk pregnancies to other hospitals, such as University Hospital Galway (UHG). This has raised concerns among local residents and councillors, as PUH serves communities across counties Tipperary, Offaly, and Clare. Questions have since been raised about the infrastructure and readiness of the hospitals expected to take on these patients, along with safety risks for women facing emergencies during labour. Deputy Kerrane is calling on the HSE to use the meeting to present a clear 'roadmap' and offer 'much needed assurances' that the diversion of high-risk pregnancies is only a temporary measure. Additionally, a petition to preserve and enhance existing maternity services at PUH has already gathered over 3,000 signatures. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Sunday World
20 hours ago
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Family in shock: ‘We found out from a WhatsApp that my mother had died by assisted suicide'
Swiss clinic criticised by family of Cavan woman (58) with history of mental illness after they were left in dark over her death plan Or at least that is what her family have been told. None of them were with the 58-year-old as she slipped away at a clinic in Switzerland. In fact, news of Ms Slough's death reached her daughter, Megan Royal, back in Dublin by WhatsApp. Ms Royal was horrified to be informed that her mother's ashes would be posted to her. Now the family of the Cavan-based woman, who had a long history of mental illness and had tried to take her own life last year, want to know how somebody's life could be ended in such a manner. Maureen Slough Ms Slough travelled to the Pegasos clinic in Switzerland less than a month ago, on July 8, having told her family she was going to Lithuania with a friend. Her family became suspicious and contacted her. They say she promised to return. But Ms Royal and Ms Slough's partner, Mick Lynch, would later receive a message from a volunteer for the Pegasos group to inform them of her death. The family immediately set about trying to find out why they were not informed by the clinic in advance, and also questioned if Ms Slough's history of mental illness was assessed by the clinic first. The Pegasos group has said in response to questions from family and friends of Ms Slough, that it received a letter from Ms Slough's daughter Megan saying she was aware of her mother's wishes and accepted them. It also says it verified the letter through an email response to Ms Royal using an email address supplied by Ms Slough. Ms Royal has said she never wrote such a letter or verified any contact from Pegasos, and now her family think Ms Slough may have forged the 'letter' and verified it using an email address she created herself. 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It said that under similar circumstances, Alistair Hamilton (47) died in 2023, and the Pegasos clinic reportedly promised last year that it would always contact a person's family before carrying out an assisted death. However, Anne, whose death was first reported by ITV News, allegedly died without her family being informed. The BBC reported that Pegasos said it had attempted to phone and text Anne's brother John, but he insisted he had received no communication from the group. Dyfed-Powys Police in Wales told the BBC it is investigating her death. The Pegasos building Anne's family learnt of her intention to die only after goodbye letters posted to them from Switzerland arrived. Ms Royal and Ms Slough's partner, Mr Lynch, received a similar card, handwritten by her mother, in recent weeks. The grieving daughter said her mother had tried to take her own life last year following the deaths of two of her sisters, and was not in her right mind when she made her decision to go to Switzerland. Her latest granddaughter had been born just days earlier. 'They should not have allowed her to make that decision on her own. This group did not contact me, even though my mother had nominated me as next of kin. They waited until afterwards and then told me she had died listening to an Elvis Presley song,' Ms Royal said. She added that her mother had a difficult upbringing, having been brought to Ireland by her own mother and a man she had met while in a mental hospital in the UK. She said that despite years of trauma, her mother made a good life for herself and joined the civil service, being promoted to executive officer before retiring last year. 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Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
Agency nurse's two complaints alleging penalisation rejected by Labour Court
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