Concern over future of Domino maternity scheme at CUMH

The future of the Domino maternity scheme at Cork University Maternity Hospital is in doubt due to staffing shortages.

The scheme allows women with low risk pregnancies to receive midwife-led care in the community, with eligible women able to return home soon after giving birth.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says the scheme has been "significantly curtailed" at CUMH due to a shortage of staff in the labour ward.

The organisation says that there are now over 80 nursing and midwifery vacancies at CUMH.

It says that the home-birth service is also at risk, which has a knock on impact on women's choices around birth.

The INMO says no promotional posts have been approved since June and that vacant posts cannot be filled without approval from the HSE.

It has called on the HSE to and the Government to end the current embargo on recruitment at CUMH.

Dr Krysia Lynch, chairperson of the Association for Improvements in Maternity Services, said it was very bad news for pregnant women being treated in CUMH.

"This was one of the few options that offered people real choice in terms of service provision and it was extremely popular and had extremely good outcomes for both mother and baby," she said.