Portiuncula group voices ‘serious concerns’ at Minister’s response on maternity downgrade

A group set up to campaign against the downgrading of maternity services at Portiuncula hospital has expressed "serious concerns" over a letter issued by Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill on the issue.

The Portiuncula Maternity Alliance last week shared a copy of the letter sent by the Minister's office to Galway County Council after it passed a resolution in July calling for the long-term safeguarding of maternity provision at the hospital in Ballinasloe, which provides care to expectant mothers from several counties including Offaly.

In her letter, the Minister Carroll MacNeill mentioned that a plan was being developed to create "a Level 4 campus at Galway University Hospital, focusing on several key developments, including improvements to the maternity unit."

The Minister said there were "twelve external reviews in total related to maternity care at Portiuncula University Hospital," which were "at various stages" of progress.

"An implementation team has been established to ensure the implementation of the recommendations arising from all reviews and to progress any further changes required over the coming months," said the Minister.

Her letter also noted that: "Consideration for the future direction of maternity service development will require an extensive evidence base, of which a review of the implementation of the current National Maternity Strategy will form part."

A statement issued by the Portiuncula Maternity Alliance in response to the Minister's letter said it contained "no clear assurance, no published evidence base, and no commitment to halting the erosion of maternity services" at the local hospital.

In July the HSE announced that, on foot of external reviews into the care provided to five women and their babies at Portiuncula, it would be transferring high-risk pregnancies elsewhere.

The Portiuncula Maternity Alliance said the fact that the Minister had, in her letter, mentioned investment in improving maternity services at Galway

University Hospital raised "further questions about equity of access and the future role of (Portiuncula)" within the regional maternity network.

The alliance also said it had concerns over the letter stating that "consideration for the future direction of maternity service development will require an extensive evidence base".

"Portiuncula Maternity Alliance is concerned that this phrasing may indicate a policy trajectory whereby patients are diverted away from Portiuncula University Hospital in order to broaden the data set underpinning future investment in Galway University Hospital, rather than a balanced approach based on local need and transparent risk assessment."

Independent Ballinasloe councillor Evelyn Parsons, who co-founded the Portiuncula Maternity Alliance, said: "Families across this region require clarity and confidence in how maternity services are governed and delivered.

"The Minister's response unfortunately does not provide the reassurances sought. It is essential that decisions about the future of maternity services at Portiuncula are based on published clinical evidence, transparent governance, and clearly identified clinical accountability.

"This downgrade affects families in eight counties - one third of the counties for which the Minister carries responsibility, 20% of the population. Communities of an entire region cannot be expected to accept service withdrawal in the absence of such safeguards."

The Portiuncula Maternity Alliance has renewed its call for an independent external review, separate from the HSE, into the governance and functioning of the West and North West maternity network, including the relationship between Portiuncula University Hospital and Galway University Hospital.

It is also seeking a moratorium on further changes to Portiuncula's maternity services pending the outcome of such a review.

Last month, more than 2,000 people took part in a protest march in Ballinasloe against the downgrading of Portiuncula's maternity services.

The Portiuncula Maternity Alliance has indicated it's also considering bringing its protest campaign to Leinster House when sittings of the Dáil resume on Wednesday, September 17.

Its petition calling calling for reinstatement of full maternity services at Portiuncula has attracted some 15,000 signatures to date.