Sir, – I recently gave birth to my second child in Holles Street, in the public system. I opted for public care in order to be looked after by midwives.
If you are in their care, you cannot request a private room, despite having VHI that would have paid for one. On arrival at the post natal ward, I was wheeled into a ward built for six beds. Mine was the eighth bed to be placed in this ward. One of my neighbours asked me whether I was the woman who had been out in the corridor all night waiting for a bed. Fortunately for me, I was not.
My first child was born in Vienna, also in the public system. On arrival at the post natal ward in Vienna, I was wheeled into a room that I shared with one other lady. We had our own en-suite bathroom. We had a changing area and baby bathing area in our room. Everything you might need was provided. Baby grows, baby vests, nappies, maternity pads, breast pads, disposable underwear, hospital gowns.
We stayed for five nights. This is standard in Austria. Ireland’s birth rate in 2011 was 17 per 1,000. Austria’s was approximately 8.67 per 1,000. Double the birth rate does not account for the stark difference in maternity experiences or facilities. The wonderful staff of Holles Street work in a Victorian environment. They deserve some relief. So too do new mothers and babies. I can think of several Nama office blocks that would allow for very quick conversion to new maternity hospitals. If co-location is essential, perhaps one can be built alongside the new children’s hospital. – Yours, etc,