After 8,500 births maternity hospital opens

CORK University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) was officially opened yesterday but a cynic would ask “why now?”.

A brand spanking new €75 million building, boasting 8,500 births already, was a public relations coup during a difficult month of cut-backs.

And it coincided with the Irish Nurses Organisation’s annual war council in Killarney.

So, en-route to the predictably hostile reception from the nurses, Health Minister Mary Harney triumphantly visited the site of her first significant industrial relation battle in 2007.

Here at CUMH staffing levels are still shy of agreements and rumours abound this month’s recruitment freeze will affect the adult hospital’s accident and emergency services.

However, by cutting the cord for the new maternity building, Ms Harney reminded midwives and nurses they may have stalled the march but her rule went on regardless.

With laughs and pats on the back, a jovial minister used her speech to praise CUMH’s project team and recall the week-long labour dispute which in March delayed the first births at the new facility.

“There was a lot of labour pains and even a false labour a few months ago before Baby Bambino was born,” she said.

Both herself and Health Service Executive Professor Drumm declared it was a “good news day” — in the midst of a propaganda war with nurses, consultants and political opposition.

Prof Drumm drilled home how CUMH embodied his vision for how the health service should operate and rallied his troops to start fighting for the organisation.

He lauded the former managers the Erinville, St Finbarr’s and Bon Secours for putting aside traditional rivalries to form the new organisation.

Dublin’s territorial maternity hospitals could read between the lines.

“We need to get out of the local parish, local football team approach and start thinking about places like this and recognise this is now one of the best units in the world.

“It is about people thinking about the bigger picture and the message that will go out from here is about the huge positives with what has been done,” he said.

Away from the industrial politics the hospital’s chair of obstetrics, gynaecology and neonatology Professor John Higgins said CUMH was managing huge demand.

“For the first stage it has been like a ship you are getting used to its engines but from here on you are going to see just how good we can be,” he said.