Ballinasloe Rallies to Reverse Portiuncula Maternity Downgrade

In response to concerns over the future of maternity services at Portiuncula University Hospital in Galway, a public rally is scheduled to take place in Ballinasloe later this month. The hospital, which delivers around 1,400 babies annually, has faced scrutiny following a recent report that identified several failings in the care provided to women and their babies.

According to the HSE, seven external reviews into the care at Portiuncula have been completed and shared with families, while an additional five reviews are currently underway or set to commence. As a result, expectant women deemed to be at higher risk are now being directed to other maternity units in the region.

Over 300 people attended the first public meeting of the Portiuncula Maternity Alliance, voicing their support for reversing the decision to downgrade services at the hospital. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Kevin Connolly, a paediatrician who spent 32 years working in Portiuncula's Special Care Baby Unit, who expressed his belief that the proposed changes could actually increase the risks of adverse events.

Among the attendees was Lorraine Reilly, who shared her personal experience of losing two daughters born at Portiuncula Hospital. While she acknowledged the need for improvements, Reilly emphasized that the community has never asked for the hospital to be closed, only for it to become safer.