Co-location of maternity services on the same site as an Adult hospital is best clinical practice. If an expectant mom God forbid should experience Preeclampsia, the only treatment for this condition at present is emergency C-section. This can result in the baby being brought to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the maternity hospital, and the mother transported by ambulance to the nearest emergency adult hospital. Right now, women who experience difficulties during birth that necessitate the intervention of cardiologists, etc, have to be moved to the Mater Hospital if they are having their babies in the Rotunda.
Cork University Maternity Hospital is on the same campus as Cork University Hospital, which is a level one trauma centre. The masters of the Rotunda, Coombe, and Holles Street along with many other obstetricians all agree that it is better for moms and babies if the hospital is built on the St.Vincent's Hospital campus. By the way the term "Master" is gender neutral and has been held by both males and females.
Politicians should listen to the medics in this instance and forget about making political capital out of women's health. It scares women, prolongs a potentially unsafe situation and prevents women in the Dublin area from getting the best possible care.
By the way, the proposal to move The Coombe to James's and The Rotunda to James Connolly in Blanchardstown are also on the table.
James Connolly doesn't even have cardiovascular facilities.
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