Dáil Éireann - Volume 468 - 25 July, 1996

Written Answers. - Specialist Referrals.

Miss M. Wallace Miss M. Wallace

233. Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the concern of many mothers that when their newborn child is diagnosed with a particular condition which may require more specialist care that they should be transferred with their child; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this can be a particular concern of mothers of children with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15900/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan, Limerick East) Michael Noonan

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan, Limerick East): Newborn babies requiring specialist referrals from maternity hospitals are, in the main, referred to Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin. The hospital authorities are not aware of any specific concerns of mothers, as a group, in relation to their transferring with their newborn babies to the hospital.

Demand for parents' accommodation in the hospital is considerable and currently there are 55 parents' beds provided in a unit on the third floor of the hospital. Pressure on specialist beds has prevented the development of parent-child accommodation on wards.

Dáil Éireann 468 Written Answers. Specialist Referrals.

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