Concern at new influx to UHG maternity unit
Concerns have been raised that the maternity unit at UHG will be unable to cope due to increased numbers as ‘higher risk’ pregnancies are transferred there from Portiuncula University Hospital.
The transfer comes after health chiefs determined that certain ‘shortcomings’ at the Ballinasloe hospital meant the transfer of care was required “in the interest of safety for mothers and babies”.
However, alarm has been raised that no ‘risk assessment’ has been presented to determine the impact of sending mothers there from Portiuncula — a hospital that provides maternity services for up to eight counties.
Ballinasloe-based County Councillor, Evelyn Parsons (Ind), said the decision to transfer, announced by the HSE in July, had been made without providing evidence of improved care for mothers — or details of the impact on UHG. Cllr Parsons, who is a GP, demanded that the health service provide full details of the move for scrutiny.
“There has been no risk assessment done on the other centres [including UHG] to which high-risk pregnancies are to be sent.
“I’m looking for the evidence base that underpins the decision to downgrade Portiuncula,” she said.
“I understand that tough decisions have to be made. There’s no arguing with facts and figures — but no facts and figures have been produced,” continued Cllr Parsons.
The Independent councillor called for a robust, independent external review of the decision which she warned health chiefs were refusing to commit to reversing in the future.
“We know once services are downgraded, they don’t come back — we have seen it in Nenagh, Ennis and Limerick.
“This will also have an impact for the women who attend Galway [maternity unit],” said Cllr Parsons.
County Councillor Alan Harney (FG) said the entire approach to date by the HSE had been ‘haphazard’ and “to think a decision was made to move services away from Portiuncula without carrying out risk analysis of that is very concerning”.
Regional Executive officer for HSE West and North West, Tony Canavan, told a meeting of Regional Health Forum West that the decision to move high-risk pregnancies from Portiuncula to UHG or another unit of a mother’s choosing was necessary “following a significant number of adverse clinical outcomes” between late 2023 and the second quarter of 2025.
Pictured: Councillor Evelyn Parsons