Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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1868. To ask the Minister for Health the engagement he has had with the heads of maternity hospitals on lifting restrictions for birthing partners. [19180/21]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1893. To ask the Minister for Health if he has met with maternity hospitals recently regarding restrictions on partners; when his next expected engagement with the hospitals will be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19256/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1868 and 1893 together.

My Department is engaging regularly with the HSE’s National Women and Infants Health Programme in relation to COVID-19 related issues in maternity services. The Programme, which was established to lead the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services across primary, community and acute care, is working with the Clinical Leads for Maternity/Women’s Health and Directors of Midwifery in each of the six Hospital Groups on COVID-19 related issues.

The Deputy will appreciate that there is a need to ensure that the safety of women, babies, hospital staff and the public is protected as much as is possible. Maternity services are a core, essential service and the focus must be to ensure that we can continue to provide 24/7 care in a safe manner.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has issued guidance regarding attendance at hospitals during the pandemic, which includes attendance at maternity hospitals. The guidance advises that restrictions on partner visiting; accompanying persons in labour; or parents visiting neonatal intensive care units, should be based on a documented risk assessment that is regularly reviewed. All maternity sites are currently reviewing their visiting restrictions on a weekly basis, with some undertaking reviews daily.

The National Women’s & Infants Health Programme has advised that as the situation regarding community transmission continues to improve, and as the immunisation of frontline workers begins to take effect, the Programme will engage with the clinical leads in each maternity network to support the phased relaxation of restrictions and provide advice on any areas of particular challenge.