‘Awful’ that over 20,000 women did not get foetal scan

It was “awful” that over 20,000 women did not get a foetal anomaly scan last year, a leading professor of obstetrics told a Dáil committee yesterday.

Prof Sean Daly, former master of the Coombe Women and Infants University in Dublin, said the primary purpose of the foetal anomaly scan was to screen for structural abnormalities. The consultant, who specialises in foetal medicine, was before the Oireachtas Health Committee to discuss medical screening services.

Prof Daly said in Britain pregnant women were screened for structural foetal abnormalities and chromosomal abnormalities. “I think if we were to concentrate on one area, it should be the structural abnormalities. Of course, if money is no object, screening for chromosomal abnormalities should be offered as well to pregnant women”