Women who stopped to talk outside Portiuncula hospital in Ballinasloe on Friday had praise for its maternity unit, though expressed “huge sympathy” for the families of nine babies whose deliveries are now being reviewed externally amid concerns over services.
Many in the Co Galway town did not want to comment on the appointment by the Health Service Executive of an external management team, led by a consultant from another hospital, to oversee maternity services there.
None who spoke to The Irish Times wanted their full names used, or photographs taken, with one explaining, “It’s a sensitive subject in a small town.”
Voicing pride in the 220-bed hospital, several wondered whether developments were a precursor by the HSE to closing maternity services and ultimately downgrading the facility.
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A woman in her 30s, pushing a pram cradling her three-month-old son, said: “I am absolutely happy with the care we got. He was premature and they went above and beyond.” Asked if she had safety concerns about the maternity unit, she shook her head. “I’d go back in a heartbeat.”
Ann, a retired midwife at the hospital, was attending for an appointment.
“The maternity unit was always classed as being very good. I had all my children there and couldn’t fault them,” she said. “People are amazed at the news. I am in an art group and we met for coffee this morning, and they just couldn’t believe that would happen. Portiuncula has always had a reputation for having such a good maternity service.”
Another woman in her 50s said, however, it was “devastating we are back here again” after a 2018 review into the delivery and neonatal care of 18 babies, three of whom died. “Have we learned nothing?”
Some local people expressed concern that the controversy would be used to move maternity services to another hospital, thereby downgrading Portiuncula. However, the HSE has indicated no such intention. Its chief executive, Bernard Gloster, said on Friday that since the review was announced, “I’m absolutely satisfied the level of assurance has absolutely increased” regarding the quality of services.
One man at a bus stop outside the hospital said he believed safety concerns would ultimately come down to staffing. “They can’t get doctors because they won’t pay them. The student nurses, as soon as they’re qualified they are [leaving for] Saudi Arabia and Australia. If the powers-that-be paid the doctors and nurses to stay here we’d be in better shape.”
In Kelly Motor Factors, a car parts shop near the hospital, a young woman at the counter said she had had “all my babies in there” and had “no concerns”.
“I was 16 when I had my first child in there and they were more than good to me, especially for a mother who was underage. They were more than helpful and kind.” She had heard about the safety concerns but reiterated: “Personally I never had a problem ever, going in for a scan or an appointment or anything.”
Sandra, walking with her nine-month-old daughter in a buggy, described developments as “mind-blowing” and welcomed the external review. “It is just so hard on the families. It could have been any one of us. I have huge sympathy for the mothers but I can’t say a bad word about Portiuncula from my position. They looked after us very well.
“I am sure staff are very busy at times. I am glad something is being done and someone is coming in from outside, reviewing stuff. It probably should be done regularly, not only when bad things happen.”
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