Waterford labour unit opening to miss due date

A new labour unit at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) will not be used for maternity needs for at least another three months because equipment has not been bought for it and staff have yet to be hired.

The neo-natal unit, which is part of a €2m development, has remained vacant for almost 18 months since it was visited by former health minister James Reilly in April 2014.

According to the Health Service Executive the total cost of the labour unit was €2m with an additional €400,000 required to equip the labour suite sufficiently.