NWCI welcomes the National Maternity Strategy

Published: Saturday, February 13, 2016

The National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) welcomed the launch of the first National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026 for Ireland, and called for all political parties to protect and invest in public services and ensure they serve the needs of all women.

The strategy is timely in light of the recent tragedies in our maternity services. We note that the Strategy aims to incorporate a more women centred approach and this is to be welcomed. The proposed establishment of a new community midwifery service will facilitate better continuity of care and more choice in birth with better information and communication throughout the different stages of pregnancy and birth. The commitment to additional staffing resources to realise this model is to be welcomed, particularly since it is something NWCI and our members have been highlighting for some time.

However. in order for the National Maternity Strategy to work significant resources must be ring fenced for its implementation. It needs to be costed and Budget 2017 to address this cost as a matter of urgency.”

Furthermore, the Eighth Amendment must be repealed. The Amendment prevents doctors and midwives from providing proper care to women, as has been acknowledged by the Masters of our maternity hospitals.  The government must commit to the repeal of the 8th amendment in the next Programme for Government to ensure that this ambitious reform plan for our maternity services will work in practice.

For teh full press release, see here.