The HSE has again promised that Ireland’s hospitals will all be following national guidelines on partners attending maternity units by the end of the week.
Many couples are still reporting not being able to be together during very difficult stages of pregnancy – well over a month after the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly told Newstalk that every hospital in Ireland would be following the same rules “by the end of the day.”
In the same interview, he said hospitals would be following the same rules for emergency situations within weeks.
Yesterday meanwhile, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin told Newstalk Breakfast that it was "unacceptable at this stage" that there are still restrictions on partner visits at some maternity hospitals.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, HSE Chief Clinical Officer (CCO) Dr Colm Henry admitted that there have been problems – particularly around infrastructure in some of the units.
The HSE's Dr Colm Henry says the latest guidelines will be in place across the board within a week:
“Those four criteria – neo-natal unit, the presence of partners during labour in the labour ward, the anomaly scan, visits to post-natal wards – all units are compliant with those,” he said.
“The further easing that took place at the end of June – the early pregnancy assessment units, routine visits for women with high-risk pregnancy and emergency presentations in late gestation – the great majority are compliant with those.
“But let me assure anyone who is listening, we will ensure that all 19 units are fully compliant in the coming week.”
He said maternity units are simply trying to protect staff and pregnant women.
“None of us wants to be in a situation – I completely understand the suffering it has caused – but our staff in maternity units, none of them want to see the situation prevail where we have so much controls put in place in order to protect women and pregnancies because of the effect of the virus,” he said.
“The real enemy here is the virus not the restrictions per sé.”
Ailbhe Smyth during a press conference for the Repeal the Eighth group Together For Yes, 11-04-2018. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNewsOn The Hard Shoulder last night, Activist and campaigner Ailbhe Smyth said women in Ireland are being “completely ignored” by hospitals who are “simply doing whatever they want” despite repeat warnings from Government and the HSE.
Meanwhile, Line of Duty actor Amy De Bhrún said it is ‘barbaric’ to block partners of pregnant people from attending maternity services while pubs and international travel are opening up.
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