A WAR ON WORDING
Vincent’s group to meet TDs to allay NMH fears
ST VINCENT’S Healthcare Group will appear at the Oireachtas Health Committee to speak about the National Maternity Hospital on Monday.
It comes as the new hospital was endorsed by the Green Party’s deputy leader, Tourism Minister Catherine Martin, amid reservations about the project.
A memo on the National Maternity Hospital will return to Cabinet on Tuesday, the day after the Health Committee meets with St Vincent’s Healthcare Group (SVHG).
The Religious Sisters of Charity transferred its share of the site to a group called St Vincent’s Holdings last month.
However, the Irish Daily Mail understands that nobody from this new group is available to speak to the committee.
An individual from SVHG has instead been given authority to speak on its behalf.
It is understood this individual was a founding member of the holding group.
The Oireachtas Health Committee wrote to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly requesting that Cabinet pause the decision on the hospital, so as to allow it to meet with the group. A spokesman for the hospital told the Mail that ‘St Vincent’s Healthcare Group look forward to meeting members of the Health Committee on Monday next’.
Senior Government sources said yesterday that St Vincent’s Healthcare Group’s appearance at the committee is not likely to have any impact on the memo going to Cabinet on Tuesday.
The Green Party’s Ms Martin also confirmed she will give her support to the project. ‘During this necessary extended twoweek period of time, I sought answers and assurances in correspondence from my Cabinet colleague [Mr Donnelly], the NMH [National Maternity Hospital], the HSE as well as SVHG,’ the minister said.
‘These centred on a nonexhaustive list outlining what procedures will be available at the NMH, the use of the term “clinically appropriate” for services agreed by the parties involved, current and future funding for important services for women, as well as safeguards that will protect the State’s significant investment in the new hospital.
‘I am satisfied that following assurances received... this has resulted in greater transparency around this project.
‘I now believe the safeguards and protections are there to protect services for women.’
Ms Martin received letters from SVHG; from the current master of the National Maternity Hospital; Professor Shane Higgins, and from the HSE yesterday through Mr Donnelly.
One letter from SVHG, seen by the Mail, stated that ‘termination of pregnancy, voluntary sterilisation (tubal ligation), gender-affirming care and fertility and assisted human reproduction treatments’ would all take place at the new National Maternity Hospital.
It comes as Professor Higgins said he would ‘be open’ to the term ‘clinically appropriate’ being ‘defined or removed’ from
‘We have no issue with it’
the constitution of the new maternity hospital.
This phrase has caused some significant concerns among Government backbenchers and the Opposition.
‘We understand why it’s there,’ Prof. Higgins said. ‘We have no issue with it. But having seen exactly how much upset and concern it does cause, on behalf of the NMH, I can say we would be open to either defining it or having it removed.’
The Mail understands that documents clarifying the term ‘clinically appropriate’ will not accompany the Cabinet memo next Tuesday.
This was also suggested by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who said the phrase ‘legally permissible’, makes it ‘very clear’ that any procedure that is legal in Ireland has to be pro
vided at the new National Maternity Hospital.
Asked if the Government would consider clarifying the phrase ‘clinically appropriate’, Mr Martin said the guarantees are ‘cast iron’.
He said: ‘The constitution of the new hospital is very strong in terms
Concerns: Fine Gael TD Emer
Higgins thinks term ‘clinically appropriate’ needs clarity of all lawful services being made available. Also, the operating licence that the HSE has given to the hospital is equally so.’
Oireachtas Health Committee members have welcomed the briefing by SVHG set for next week.
However, Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan told the Mail that she is still in favour of the Cabinet decision being paused.
‘We haven’t had a chance to speak to people from St Vincent’s and [the meeting] is very welcome,’ Deputy Hourigan said.
She added: ‘An extension of a
‘I would love more time’
week wouldn’t be a major issue, particularly since the business case hasn’t been signed off by the Department of Health.
‘I can understand the Cabinet wants to move ahead with it.
‘But, in its current form, clarity around the term “clinically appropriate” could be easily achieved, even if they were going to sign off on it on Tuesday.
‘I think it would be unfortunate if we move ahead on Tuesday without having provided some clarity to people there. I would love more time.’
Fine Gael TD Emer Higgins, who raised concerns on the matter with Mr Donnelly earlier this week, told the Mail that her initial fears about the National Maternity Hospital had now been allayed.
However, she said there is still some public concern about the term ‘clinically appropriate’ and that she would be in favour of a ‘non-exhaustive’ list of what the phrase means being published on a legal footing.