Independent, International Expert Supports Maternity Unit at South Tipperary General Hospital – Healy

An assurance review by an independent, international and impartial expert has supported the maternity unit at South Tipperary General Hospital.

The review, at the request of the Health Service Executive, was undertaken by Mr. David Flory, an experienced senior executive from the NHS in England. Mr. Flory has 22 years’ service on boards at local, regional and national level and has served as the CEO of five NHS organisations, most recently the Trust Development Authority (TDA).

The Save Our Acute Hospital Services Committee welcomes what is a positive and powerful endorsement and support of the work at the maternity services at South Tipperary General Hospital.

The report highlights excellent staff, working well together, with good outcomes above the national average and provides a clear roadmap for the continuation and improvement of the maternity service at the hospital.

Mr. Flory commends and praises the culture of professionalism and commitment in the unit in the following paragraph taken from his report;

“The sense of strong team working is palpable in the unit. The broader midwifery leadership team is energetic and positive and just gets on with things. This too adds to the resilience. A large proportion of the staff are local people who have a huge commitment to the hospital which means that they frequently turn up to work outside their contracted hours when things are busy. This is such a strength and should not be underestimated or taken for granted.”

Hospital governance improvements recommended by Mr. Flory have already been addressed including; networking with the South West Hospital group and Cork University Hospital, the approval to a substantive appointment at Senior Management level, and risk management level and the advertising of the post of Director of Midwifery.

The Health Service Executive needs to address staffing issues including the appointment of a fourth consultant obstetrician and additional midwifery and support staff.

The Save Our Acute Hospital Services Committee have already raised the issue of the commencement of the phase II capital developments at the hospital with Minister Varadkar when we met him in July of this year at the hospital.

This would ensure the upgrading of accommodation and facilities in the old section of the hospital referred to in the report.

The Save Our Acute Hospital Services Committee wish to thank the staff for their hard work, commitment and professionalism which has led to a very positive report and high levels of patient satisfaction.

The Committee will now be meeting senior HSE management with a view to progressing the improvements identified in the report.

by Seamus Healy T.D.

Chairman – The Save Our Acute Hospital Services Committee