HSE bids to ease midwife boycott fears

HEALTH managers moved yesterday to ease fears over midwifes who have promised they will boycott the opening of the country’s newest maternity hospital over staffing levels.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) South also accused the main nursing union of creating “unnecessary anxiety” for mums-to-be ahead of the opening on March 24 of the €75 million Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH).

The city’s three maternity hospitals — the HSE-managed St Finbarr’s and Erinville, and the privately run Bon Secours unit — are due to close when CUMH opens in just over six weeks.