Maternity crisis - Funding and staff must be increased

EXPECTANT mothers have reason to be worried over today’s revelation that a second hospital may have to limit the number of babies it delivers because of serious shortcomings in the maternity service.

In this prosperous era, pregnant women are entitled to expect the highest quality of gynaecological and obstetric service. Thus, it is alarming to hear the tone of utter frustration behind criticism voiced by a senior consultant at Limerick Regional Maternity Hospital.

Pulling no punches, Dr Jerry Burke, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, has described access to consultants there as “just about the lousiest in the whole of Britain and Ireland”.