Campaigners who sparked the withdrawal of the Sisters of Charity from the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH) have said the decision represents one step in the right direction, but does nothing to resolve the need for a publicly-controlled maternity health service.

Cllr. Éilis Ryan (Workers’ Party), who led protests against religious ownership of the new NMH, today (Tuesday) issued a statement saying:
“The decision by the Sisters of Charity to withdraw from the St. Vincent’s healthcare group has allayed the worst case scenario that a religious ethos would limit women’s access to decent healthcare.

“Nonetheless, the fact remains that St. Vincent’s will remain a voluntary, ie private, hospital, with a legal right to determine its own ethos. This is not appropriate in a publicly-funded hospital.”

Cllr. Ryan pointed to the publication today of the Committee on the Future of Healthcare, which intends to ensure everybody has full access to free, public hospital care, saying:
“We have seen in our education system that a fully publicly-funded system is not sufficient to ensure public control over that system. If we really want to ensure decent public healthcare, its not enough simply to increase funding.

“The state needs to take control of all private & voluntary hospitals – whether secular or religious – and ensure that it has full legal authority over ethos and practice in Irish healthcare.”

ENDS

For information contact Cllr. Éilis Ryan (086) 3108553