TD to raise MLU review with Minister in Dáil

The review came about following a threat to merge the MLU in Cavan with that of consultancy-led services earlier this year.

The review into the midwifery-led unit in Cavan General Hospital is to be raised in the Dáil this afternoon with the Minister for Health by Cavan-Monaghan TD, Niamh Smyth.

The subject is one of the Topical Issues selected by the Ceann Comhairle and scheduled for discussion from 17.32 pm.

The local Fianna Fail deputy has just four minutes to make an initial statement and the Minister/Minister of state has in turn four minutes to reply.

The Deputy has then has two more minutes of speaking time to make a supplementary statement and the Minister/Minister of state has two minutes themselves for a concluding statement.

Proceedings in Dáil Éireann can be viewed live HERE.

Last month the Department of Health confirmed to The Anglo-Celt that it had written to the HSE asking them for an update regarding a sanctioned report on Cavan General's Midwifery Led Unit (MLU).

The review came about following a threat to merge the MLU in Cavan with that of consultancy-led services earlier this year.

It was scheduled for completion at the end of last month and is now several weeks overdue.

The still outstanding examination is being overseen by Group Clinical Director for Maternity Services in conjunction with Directors of Midwifery in Drogheda and the Rotunda Hospitals.

The MLU at Cavan General is one of only two MLUs in the country- alongside Drogheda, despite the fact that a roll-out of the service nationally is a critical component of the National Maternity Strategy (2016-2020).

The decision to merge local maternity services was initially recommended from within the RCSI Group.

No new cases were to be admitted from June 1.

But within a matter of days, and following public outcry, the proposal was put on 'pause'.

Last year 211 expectant mothers passed through the MLU, with 74 births out of a total 1,377 at the local hospital.

In 2018, there were 1,512 births, of which 95 were in the MLU.