St. Vincent's it is

New maternity hospital will provide standard of care expected by women - Taoiseach

Artist's impression of new National Maternity Hospital at St Vincent's

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said agreement on the new National Maternity Hospital will conclude in the next number of weeks and the hospital will provide the standard of care women are entitled to expect in this day and age.
Mr Kenny said if issues arise that mean women need hospital treatment "it will be on the campus of St Vincent’s".
"What we want to do is put in place a legally waterproof situation where it will be perfectly clear for everybody that what's at stake here is proper world class facilities for expectant mothers and pregnant women," he said.
The Taoiseach added that the breathing space requested by Minister for Health Simon Harris on the issue has been given to him.
Former master of the National Maternity Hospital Dr Peter Boylan resigned with immediate effect from its board yesterday morning.
Mr Kenny said the decision by Dr Boylan to resign from the board is one for himself.

New National Maternity Hospital

The Master of the National Maternity Hospital has said that the agreement reached for locating the new maternity hospital at St Vincent’s is unequivocal, that the hospital will be entirely independent, and that that is written down in black and white.

Dr. Rhona Mahony said the ethos of the hospital will be clinical excellence and that contraception, IVF services, and abortions will be carried out when necessary.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Dr. Mahony stressed that nuns will not be involved in the operation or running of the hospital.
She said the fundamental principle during the mediation process for the National Maternity Hospital, currently based in Holles Street, was that it would retain its independence and autonomy.
It was important to locate the hospital on the St. Vincent’s campus, because they want patients to have access to wide range of services available there, Dr. Mahony added.

Dr. Rhona Mahony said the ownership of the hospital is a technical detail

The St Vincent's Healthcare Group, owned by the Sisters of Charity, will own the €300m building.
Dr. Mahony said the ownership is a technical detail.

She said that abortions will be carried out, without hesitation, if needed to save a woman's life.
Asked if a woman wants to be sterilised, out of personal need, Dr. Mahony said it will be done.
She said the new maternity hospital will not be practising in St Vincent’s Hospital, but on the campus. This, she said, was in the agreement and there is no doubt about this.