I WON’T QUIT

Maternity hospital deal revealed after top doc refuses to resign

HEALTH Minister Simon Harris last night welcomed the publication of the agreement on the new National Maternity Hospital.

Holles Street Hospital and St Vincent’s Healthcare Group went public with the 25-page deal after a top obstetrician said he had been asked to resign from the board. Former Holles Street master Dr Peter Boylan was asked to quit after criticising the deal that would see the new hospital move to St Vincent’s which is owned by the Religious Sisters of Charity. He said: “I don’t feel I should resign. There’s been questions about loyalty to the board – I feel a loyalty to the women of Ireland. “The function of the National Maternity Hospital is to offer care to the women of Ireland. To believe that by granting ownership to the Roman Catholic Church and the company that is tasked with running the hospital to the Roman Catholic Church, to construct a board which four out of nine members would have fundamental objections to a lot of activity going on in that hospital just is not a runner.” Details of the deal published last night said there will be “clinical independence in the provision of maternity, gynaecology, obstetrics and neonatal services [without religious, ethnic or other distinction] in the hospital”. It added there will be “legal autonomy of hospital operations” and “protection of State investment and interests”. The agreement does not specifically state any medical procedure which is in accordance with the law of the land will be carried out at the new hospital but St Vincent’s said this is the case. The St Vincent’s Healthcare Group will own the hospital but the Health Minister will have a “Golden Share”. It is understood the State will have a lien on the building in accordance with normal funding arrangements. The board meets today to discuss the issue which has prompted tens of thousands of people to sign an online petition opposing any role or ownership for the nuns at the new €300million facility.