Concerns over the downgrading of maternity services at Portiuncula University Hospital (PUH ) in Ballinasloe dominated this week’s plenary meeting of Galway County Council, where councillors from across the political spectrum voiced frustration with what they described as a lack of accountability and transparency from the HSE and the Minister for Health.
Opening the discussion, Cllr Dermot Connolly (Sinn Féin ) said that despite recent debates in the Dáil, “The minister herself did not appear while the topic was raised by two of my party colleagues. She was absent for Portiuncula questions and queries, which is worrying.” He added that mothers using the service “are the people who need to be listened to,” stressing that while safety must remain the priority, “if a situation is not working, the minister needs to take this in hand herself because of commitments she has made earlier.”
The councillor also went on to question whether the former arrangement that allowed consultants to rotate between hospitals was still in place. “If that is no longer the case, we should hear about it,” he said.
Responding, Cllr Alan Harney (FG ) noted that the Minister for Health “has been in the Dáil discussing the matter,” though not present during the particular debate referenced. Cllr Connolly replied that it was “time for her to talk up and not just talk to her own party and talk to everyone.”
Cllr Jimmy McClearn (FG ) said every councillor wanted to see a full restoration of services but pointed to issues within hospital management. “The reason there are no services now is because of the very high incidence rate, where babies had to be transferred. The minister did not create these problems. Until the hospital management team cooperates fully with the external team, the issue will not be resolved,” he said.
Cllr McClearn added that HSE CEO Bernard Gloster had stated the Walker Report was not fully implemented, while the HSE had claimed that it was. “If it were identified as a resource problem, it would be one thing, but the minister has said she wants full restoration. Let’s not get political about it because that is where I fear it is going,” he said.
In response to this, Cllr Shaun Cunniffe (Ind Ire ) said members of the HSE West and North-West Health Forum, of which he is a part, had been told by HSE Regional Executive Officer Tony Canavan that the service would not be reinstated. “If someone could show us a plan, we might have some confidence. The Government had no problem removing rural services. It wasn’t a political problem, but it can be solved politically.”
Physician and councillor, Cllr Dr Evelyn Parsons (Ind ) called on the Minister for Health to comply with the previous unanimous request by councillors on the health forum, which saw all 40 of elected representatives nominated to the forum from local authorities in the west and north-west unanimously agree to call for a meeting with the minister regarding the issue.
“Look, it is a political issue, because where does the responsibility lie? It lies with the minister because she has the power to fix the issue. As Cllr McClearn said, a third party should be brought into PUH, something I have long since wanted. In no way is PUH an outlier in this issue; it has been specifically targeted.
“We have an issue with the forum where councillors unanimously agreed to have the minister come before the forum and answer questions about Portiuncula, but that is not being supported by the HSE and was confirmed by Tony Canavan (Regional Executive Officer, HSE West and North West ). Why is that? Why is there no one clear message? This is not a temporary issue.”
Cllr Michael Connolly’s (FF ) response to the chamber was to remind all present that “women have suffered there and babies have died,” adding that “many of the recommendations in the Walker Report have not been implemented.”
