Mary recently accompanied Fianna Fáil Health Spokesperson, Stephen Donnelly TD to meet with the Master of the Rotunda Hospital, it’s Chief Operations Officer and the Chief of Midwifery and Nursing.
Commenting following the visit, Mary said, “The Rotunda on Parnell Square is not just one of Ireland’s leading providers of antenatal and perinatal care, it’s in fact the world’s longest operational maternity hospital.
“I know from my own experience that Hospital staff provide exceptional care in difficult and challenging working conditions.
“Through the years the hospital has delivered over one million Dubliners and just last year, 20,000 mothers and babies were cared for by staff in the Rotunda.
“However the reality is that parts of the hospital building are centuries old and are no longer fit for purpose. This has resulted in an overcrowded Intensive Care Unit and wards.
“Despite being Europe’s busiest hospital for women to give birth, accounting for 25% of all neonatal births in the country, the Government is long fingering any development of the hospital. This is unacceptable for mothers, babies and staff.
“We must also be mindful that enactment of legislation relating to repeal of the 8th Amendment is likely to result in additional demands being put on the Rotunda to provide related services to women. As Dublin’s population grows exponentially, the demand on maternity services naturally increases and that demand must be met with more appropriate levels of funding.
“The Government needs to stop short changing mothers, babies and staff of the Rotunda and include in budget 2018 the necessary funding for a new five storey west wing building to provide facilities that meet current best standards. This project has already received the support of Dublin City Council but requires Government funding.
“This development would provide access to essential services for women and babies as well as fit for purpose working conditions for staff. Mary has called for the the Government to demonstrate real support for women and babies by including this project in budget 2018.