Midwives at the country’s largest maternity hospital have expressed grave concern that the lives of mothers and newborn babies are being put at risk.
This is due to the continued recruitment embargo and cost-cutting measures at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH).
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) claims that because staff levels are lower than levels recommended by the Health Service Executive (HSE) itself, mothers and babies are not receiving the care they need and deserve.
The INMO claims the hospital is operating on between 80 and 100 midwives and nurses fewer than the 380-400 recommended for the hospital’s annual 9,000 births.
Earlier this week, the HSE announced the CUH/CUMH group was overspending by 10m. CUMH has been told it will have to manage without agency and replacement staff or overtime — all of which had been helping to bridge staff shortages.
Patsy Doyle of the INMO said midwives were fearful of a clinical emergency as a result of the staff shortages. Midwives were reporting that mothers’ basic needs were not being met, including the administration of pain relief, she said.
“Women’s and children’s lives are at risk unless more midwives are employed at CUMH,” said Ms Doyle.
“Midwives are available but the HSE is locking them out. We want the public to be made aware of internal risks at the hospital which could be resolved by emergency recruitment,” she added.