Broadness of MLU review criticised by TD

To date in 2020, 72 pregnant mothers have accessed MLU services at Cavan General.

Further clarity has been sought by a local TD after details of the terms of reference for a review of local maternity services - including the Midwifery Led Unit (MLU) - came to light.

The requested review of Maternity and Early Childhood Health Models of Care in Cavan and Monaghan Hospital was prompted after news broke of the plan to merge MLU with consultancy led maternity services.

The term of reference (TOF) as outlined to Deputy Niamh Smyth (FF) on foot of a parliamentary question submitted to the newly appointed Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, stated the review will examine 'existing practices and models of care currently employed in Cavan and Monaghan Maternity services'.

The review is being conducted within the RCSI Hospital Group, led by the Group Clinical Director for Maternity Services in conjunction with the Directors of Midwifery from Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda and the Rotunda Hospitals, with further 'consider necessary enhancements of models in line with the National Maternity Strategy (2016-2020)'.

Lastly, the review will 'devise an implementation plan'.

Deputy Smyth insists more clarity is needed on what the scoping examination is looking to determine.

“The terms of reference into this review are very broad and I have requested further clarity on the wording of same,” said Deputy Smyth, who also received details of the number of women accessing MLU services.

To date in 2020, 72 pregnant mothers have accessed MLU services at Cavan General.