Pressure for new maternity facilities

THE North Eastern Health Board wants Minister Micheál Martin to provide funding for a midwifery-led unit at Monaghan General Hospital.

The board’s chairman Declan Breathnach yesterday acknowledged that a new maternity unit in Monaghan was essential to restore public confidence in the health board, which suspended maternity services last year.

There was public outrage in the border county following the death last December of baby Bronagh Livingstone. She was born prematurely en route to Cavan General Hospital after her mother Denise was turned away from Monaghan Hospital.