Sir, – When the National Maternity Strategy was launched in January 2016 it articulated, for the first time in Ireland, a vision for the future of maternity services. This vision aspires to safe, high-quality care in a setting that is most appropriate and dedicated to women and infants. To this end, current Government policy determines that the four standalone maternity hospitals in Dublin and Limerick be co-located on the campuses of acute adult teaching hospitals. In this way, women will have access to care in an appropriate infrastructure and, on the occasions required, women are in close proximity to the broad range of adult services on an acute adult hospital campus. This is a similar concept to the campus approach of the new children’s hospital planned on the St James’s campus.
The National Maternity Strategy also supports the retention of the mastership model, comprising an executive management team which balances clinical, administrative and financial function, reporting to a dedicated board. This model has served women and infants well over the past 260 years, and currently provides excellent clinical outcomes.
We are strongly of the view that for tertiary maternity and neonatal services the mastership model is the appropriate model operating in the best interest of women and infants. – Yours, etc,
Dr RHONA MAHONY,
Master,
National Maternity Hospital,
Dublin;
Prof FERGAL MALONE,
Master,
Rotunda Hospital, Dublin;
Dr SHARON SHEEHAN,
Master,
Coombe Women and Infants
University Hospital, Dublin.