Hospital staff crisis - Vital post must be filled - now

THE staff shortage problems at the country’s hospitals are well documented. And the public is acutely aware of the serious risks associated with the shortage of skilled staff at medical and nursing levels in maternity units.

This problem now confronts the National Maternity Hospital at Holles Street in Dublin where an additional consultant neonatologist post has remained unfilled for four years.

Besides ensuring the safety of the neonatal service, the extra consultant would have responsibility for supervising a national ambulance service which transfers sick babies from all over the country to either the maternity hospitals in Dublin or an appropriate paediatric centre.

Crucially, community services also need to be expanded countrywide to protect healthy babies who are being discharged increasingly early and risk severe jaundice or serious weight loss if breast feeding is not adequately established. So grave is this risk, according to consultant Dr Winifred Gorman, that “good community services are essential if catastrophes are to be avoided”.

For safety sake, Health Minister Micheál Martin should give the green light to expand community services. He should also order his department to clear the way for an extra consultant to be recruited by the National Maternity Hospital without further delay.