Women Demand Continuity in Maternity Care

Rotunda Hospital and the government just settled a fiery contract dispute, with Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill securing a win: public-only consultants can’t treat private patients. But she’s not stopping there—now she’s pushing for these consultants to actually show up, working evenings and weekends as promised. Meanwhile, the real issue—what women truly want from maternity care—got sidelined. Women, especially during pregnancy, crave the best possible care and continuity: seeing the same trusted faces throughout their journey. Some get that in the public system; others don’t, not because they distrust it, but because they want the same level of choice and reassurance available in private care. And they’re absolutely right to demand it. As the Rotunda drama cools, the bigger question emerges: what kind of maternity care should Sláintecare deliver? The minister says women should have a choice between consultant-led or midwifery-led care—but the HSE admits in practice, that’s not guaranteed. Plus, extra scans or appointments are only offered when medically necessary, not for reassurance, which many women find inadequate. This debate must always center on women’s lived experiences to ensure the public system truly delivers on its promises. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/545c453f3c145c57