Rotunda Hospital apologises for ‘upset or anxiety’ caused by RTÉ doc
While fathers and partners were prevented from attending their child's birth, a camera crew was granted access. File picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie
The Rotunda Hospital has said it “very much regrets any upset or anxiety” caused by the broadcasting of a TV series filmed at the location during the pandemic.
It comes as the Minister for Health called on bosses at the maternity hospital to explain why an RTÉ camera crew was allowed to film a programme while partners of pregnant women faced restrictions.
The RTÉ show, , which films the maternity hospital, aired this week. It sparked huge public backlash after fathers and partners were prevented from attending their child's birth and other pregnancy-related appointments due to Covid-19 restrictions, while a camera crew was granted access.
A spokesperson said: “The Rotunda very much regrets any upset or anxiety that the broadcast of this important documentary has caused, as none was ever intentioned.
“The Rotunda will continue to support and care for its patients and staff to the best of its ability, throughout both good times and challenging conditions.
“We will continue, in good faith, to always do our best for our patients and our families.”
However, the spokesperson also defended the decision to record the series.
They said: “Management at the Rotunda consider the series to be an important platform that enables patients to share their experiences, both good news stories and those that are heartbreaking.
“The Rotunda believes that it is important to hear these challenges and stories, and to acknowledge the experiences of patients and staff during the difficult time created by the Covid-19 pandemic.”
They also noted “the strong positive reaction (including from very senior politicians) to the RTÉ Investigates: Inside Ireland’s Covid Battle documentary series which was broadcast in July 2020.”
“That documentary was filmed at the height of the pandemic inside St James’ Hospital Intensive Care Unit, when even more restrictive conditions than have ever applied at the Rotunda were in place” the statement said.
“The Rotunda management team were reassured to note that some of the same production staff involved in that much-lauded documentary were involved in series three of The Rotunda.”
Both RTÉ and the Rotunda have faced widespread criticism after a film crew was permitted on site when partners of expectant mothers were forced to wait outside maternity hospitals because of Covid restrictions.
Earlier, the Minister for Health said he is looking into the issue but has called for answers from the master of the Rotunda.
"I think we certainly deserve an explanation, a statement from the Rotunda on this," Mr Donnelly said.
"We've been working really hard with the HSE, and to get this sorted out a lot of work has been done."
Taoiseach Micheál Martin added that partners should not be facing restrictions.
"I don't think it's appropriate that partners were denied access that a TV crew should be allowed in," he said.
"I think there has to be consistency in terms of decision-making, but I'm not privy to the decision-making.
"I fully understand why people would be angry."
Fianna Fáil senator Lisa Chambers, who gave birth during the pandemic, said she personally "was disgusted" to see the programme air.
"That camera crews had access when mums were left alone and dads were left alone in the carpark," she said.
"It is just compounding the hurt that many parents across the country feel when they remember the experience that they've been through, and I can attest to that.
"To say that you're angry probably is an underestimation of the feelings of the public have expressed."
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