Top doc quits over nuns’ ownership of maternity hospital
obstetrician stands down from board position
A LEADING obstetrician has resigned over a controversial deal to give nuns ultimate ownership of the country’s new National Maternity Hospital.
Former Master at Holles Street in Dublin Peter Boylan, revealed his decision to stand down from the board of the current National Maternity Hospital. The new €300million facility is planned for a site on valuable land owned by the Sisters of Charity at St Vincent’s Hospital in the south of the city. The order of nuns is due to be the ultimate owner of the fully State-funded facility under a complex arrangement between the current National Maternity Hospital and St Vincent’s Hospital Group. Dr Boylan, who initially rejected calls to resign, told Pat Kenny on Newstalk: “I think it’s a scandal that in 2017 the State is going to gift to a religious organisation a National Maternity Hospital, of all things. “I really do not think that’s acceptable. My view is shared by an enormous number of people in the country.” There was concerns about the nuns’ involvement in the ownership of the facility about whether their religious ethos will have any sway over clinical care and specifically if women will be able to have terminations if their life is at risk, IVF treatment, sterilisation or contraceptive care. Bishop Kevin Doran said the Sisters would have to obey Church law as owners, regardless of how the facility is funded, and governance rests with the Pope. Close to 100,000 people have signed an online petition opposing any role or ownership by the nuns. Yesterday Health Minister Simon Harris said the group would be prevented from ever selling the site without the State’s approval.