Sir, – I note that the masters of two maternity hospitals are worried about the possibility that women may not be able to choose private obstetric care in a publicly funded hospital (“Masters of maternity hospitals criticise move to end private care of pregnant women”, News, December 19th).
It is encouraging that they are reflecting on choice in maternity services but depressing that they are focusing on this issue instead of the real lack of choice in giving birth in this country. International evidence has shown that for low-risk births, midwife-led care is safer, leads to more satisfaction and costs less. These findings are echoed in the few midwife-led units available to women in Ireland, which have never been rolled out country-wide. Perhaps our obstetricians could throw their weight behind developing midwife-led services so that women in Ireland can have genuine choice in how they give birth. – Yours, etc,
NICOLA REEVES,
Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Consultant obstetricians have been defending private maternity care for pregnant women, citing the National Maternity Strategy as promoting “choice”. In fact, the strategy does not mention private care. The “choice” referred to in the strategy is the model of care provided and nothing to do with whether the woman has private health insurance. The model of care outlines three care pathways: midwifery-led and delivered; obstetric-led and midwifery and obstetric delivered; obstetric-led and obstetric and midwifery delivered. A woman does not need health insurance to access any of these pathways. She never did and does not now. Childbirth has been funded under the mother and baby scheme since 1956. – Yours, etc,
Dr JACKY JONES,
Galway.
Sir, – I’m shocked to learn that the plan to ban all private obstetric practice from public hospitals will mean that all women of childbearing age will be the only group excluded from choice of their own consultant for their care. Why would we take away this choice that is available to all other medical disciplines? – Yours, etc,
KATHY CAHILL,
Malahide,
Co Dublin.