Smaller maternity hospitals around the country cannot provide the level of care that is required on their own, two new reports published by the HSE have concluded.

The two Assurance Reports, which were conducted by an independent international expert, relate to two maternity units - one based in Cavan/Monaghan General Hospital and the other in South Tipperary General Hospital.

These hospitals were chosen as a sample of smaller units nationwide and the reports provide important findings in relation to the quality and safety of similar units.

They found that smaller hospitals, such as those featured, cannot operate in isolation as stand-alone entities, clinically or financially.

Without formal links and networks to bigger, stronger and more specialised units, these smaller units cannot maintain the level of clinical services that patients require.

The reports also pointed out that aside from clinical services, these smaller units cannot afford to do everything independently and it is the connection and sharing of staff and facilities between units that enables available funds to go further.

The reports emphasised that the development of maternity networks needs to be fast tracked.

Responding to these reports and following on from the highly critical report on the maternity unit in Portlaoise Hospital earlier this year, the HSE said that it is undertaking a number of actions to ensure the safety of those who require maternity care.

It said that it is working with the Department of Health on the development of a national maternity strategy that will provide a ‘road map' for maternity services nationally.

Other actions include:
-The establishment of a National Women and Infants Programme Office to ensure national clinical leadership for maternity services
-The filling of critical management, midwifery management and consultant posts which was identified in the reports.

The two reports on Cavan/Monaghan and South Tipperary were conducted by David Flory, a senior executive from the NHS in the UK.