MATERNITY SERVICES IN Ireland must go on the political radar following a recent debacle over an extension to the Rotunda Hospital, Labour’s health spokesperson told a demonstration today.

Planning permission for a €100m four-storey extension to the maternity hospital was overturned following objections about preserving the architectural heritage of the area.

Opposition parties blamed a lack of clarity over future plans.

A new planning application is to be submitted after the government dropped the existing co-location policy of moving the Rotunda Hospital to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown.

Speaking at a demonstration at the hospital on International Women’s Day, Labour’s spokesperson on Health Marie Sherlock described a “dire need” for the new critical care wing at the Rotunda.

She also said it had been 20 years since there had been any serious investment in maternity facilities in Ireland.

“It’s [the Rotunda extension] been talked about for many years: there was a report six years ago which said the high dependency unit had the worst facilities in the country,” she said.

“This is about demanding that maternity facilities in this country get the respect that they deserve, and any woman who has ever walked through the door of a maternity hospital knows just how vulnerable a time it is in their lives and how much you are in the hands of the staff, and also the facilities.

“We need to make sure that the clarion call from today is maternity facilities have to be put on the political radar.

“The political football that played out over the past few weeks should never have happened but I’m really relieved and glad that we now have an outcome in terms of the government saying that the future location of the Rotunda Hospital is here in the heart of Dublin’s north inner city.”

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Dr Vicky O’Dwyer, a consultant obstetrician and director of gynaecology at the hospital, also addressed the gathering.

“It’s great now that we have clarity we are staying here in Parnell Square, but we need to improve our facilities,” she said.

“Last year we delivered just over 8,600 babies, and that’s 1,500 more than the next busiest maternity hospital in the country, and we’re seeing our booking numbers go up.

“We’re delighted that women are choosing to have their babies at the Rotunda, we’re also the busiest women’s health unit in the country.

“So we need to provide safe high quality care, which we’re doing, but we need better facilities for our patients.”