Call to extend maternity leave for premature births

IRELAND needs to improve its poor maternity leave rights for the mothers of 2,000 babies born prematurely every year.

Runners of the only post-hospital service for parents of premature babies at the Coombe Hospital, Dublin, argue that the standard 26 weeks paid leave is inadequate for a premature baby, who may take a year to develop to the stage of a healthy newborn.

Patricia O’Hara, a specialist nurse who help set up the neo-natal transition home service group, was appalled by her findings when she carried out the only research project concerning Irish parents of premature babies when they return home.