Sir, - In your article on rationing beds due to the baby boom, it is reported that Holles Street Hospital needs a further £500,000 to cope with the rise in births. Can I suggest that the Department of Health looks at an alternative solution?
Many women in Dublin actually want a homebirth, but their needs are restricted by the lack of community midwives in the area. Let Ireland follow the lead of more progressive European states, and encourage low risk women to give birth at home. Transfer funding towards more community based midwifery.
As a father who has witnessed the wonder of homebirth of two of his children, I say it should be we men, as well as Dublin's women, demanding an increase in community based midwifery. As a business manager, I can only suggest that it makes sense to allow more low risk women to give birth at home, freeing hospital beds for those who choose their facilities. - Yours, etc.,
Kilmacud Road,
Stillorgan,
Co Dublin.