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Portiuncula Hospital Google Maps

Review of maternity services shelved in wake of hospital chair's resignation

It had previously sparked fears that many of these units in the West/North West group would close.

A REVIEW OF maternity services in the West/North West Hospitals Group has been suspended.

It comes just weeks after group chairman Noel Daly resigned following revelations that a company he founded was appointed to carry out the review of the hospitals.

The review will now form part of a national review of maternity services.

“We will, of course, continue to implement the recommendations of the HIQA and other reviews where possible and considerable progress has been made in this regard,” group CEO Bill Maher said.

The review had sparked fears that many of these units would close.

“Flawed”

Independent TD for Roscommon-South Leitrim Denis Naughten has welcomed the announcement, describing the report as “flawed from the start”.

“I previously outlined that I cannot understand how consultants could produce a report that came out so negatively considering that Portiuncula is the safest hospital, one of the most efficient and the second biggest in the hospital group,” he said this afternoon.

Minister for Health James Reilly came under fire in recent weeks after it emerged that Noel Daly set up D & F Health Partnership Ltd with Deirdre Foley Woods in 2008 – the company that was appointed to carry out the review of services.

Resignation

Upon his appointment to the hospital group by Reilly, Daly had resigned as chair of the Health Partnership.

He retained a 50 per cent share in the company but the hospital group said he has received “no financial reward of any kind from the company since his retirement in December 2011″ and “remains committed to disposing of his shares”.

Following his resignation, border member Dr John Killeen took over the role on an interim basis.

Deputy Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan previously claimed that staff at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe were “warned” not to reveal the closure of maternity services at the hospital until after the local elections.

Additional reporting by Órla Ryan

Read: Chairman of West/Northwest Hospital Group resigns over ‘conflict of interest’ >

More: James Reilly denies there was conflict of interest in maternity services review >

Ming: Hospital staff warned not to reveal ‘maternity unit closure until after elections’ >

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    Mute Joe blogs
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    Mar 16th 2016, 2:44 PM

    The ra done it better

    75
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    Mute Leo Lowe
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    Mar 16th 2016, 3:02 PM

    Did not done. Shinner are not usually well educated.

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    Mute Motherofdivinejebus
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    Mar 16th 2016, 3:08 PM

    Err, I think you forgot an apostrophe between Did and Not Leo,
    Oh the Irony, LOL

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    Mute Motherofdivinejebus
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    Mar 16th 2016, 3:09 PM

    Whoops! I meant a Comma,
    (Karma is a bitch, I know )

    55
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    Mute Cosmo Kramer
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    Mar 16th 2016, 3:15 PM

    There’s nothing more ignorant than correcting someone’s grammer..

    23
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    Mute Karol Doran
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    Mar 16th 2016, 3:34 PM

    Cosmo,

    It’s ‘grammar’.

    70
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    Mute Leo Lowe
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    Mar 16th 2016, 3:36 PM

    Mother, the initial letter in comma should be lower case.

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    Mute Thomas Delaney
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    Mar 16th 2016, 9:50 PM

    Also, spelling is not grammar you simpleton Cosmo.

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    Mute Kevin Blanche
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    Mar 16th 2016, 2:50 PM

    Up like a bird and over the city

    55
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    Mute graham galvin
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    Mar 16th 2016, 2:52 PM

    3 men are missing, I heard the warden say.

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    Mute Peadar Ó Gréacháin
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    Mar 16th 2016, 4:15 PM

    Copycats…..

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    Mute IrishGravyTrain
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    Mar 16th 2016, 2:50 PM

    Video needs that Mission Impossible theme.

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    Mute Gerry Fitz
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    Mar 16th 2016, 3:24 PM

    CLOSE THE GATES

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    Mute Gary O'neill
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    Mar 16th 2016, 2:43 PM

    The Canadians should be ashamed of themselves for letting this occur. Thankfully their country is a lot more beautiful than the dump we live in so I won’t get too mad at them

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    Mute Timber Planks
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    Mar 16th 2016, 2:55 PM

    Have you even been to Canada?

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    Mute Diolúin Ó hUigínn
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    Mar 16th 2016, 2:57 PM

    Good man for forgiving them Gary, I’m sure they were very worried there for a minute.

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    Mute Alan Cooke
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    Mar 16th 2016, 5:40 PM

    No, I don’t think he has but he’s just back from a quick holiday to Rome.
    It’s amazing how us tax paying fools can let Gary jet around on his well funded state pension and come on here and call our country a dump. Stop his pension for 6 months and that will cure his cough.

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    Mute Patrick J O'CONNOR
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    Mar 16th 2016, 6:37 PM

    @Gary O’neill……..Funny! Never heard a Canadian note anything like you say. Only your BS I would say.

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    Mute THE BIG LAD
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    Mar 16th 2016, 3:48 PM

    Its happened here a few times ….

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    Mute Sean Bradley
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    Mar 16th 2016, 3:27 PM

    Sound like something from the video game GTA

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    Mute richiecallaghan
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    Mar 16th 2016, 3:18 PM

    Good man Gary insult the country that’s paying your over generous teacher pension, bet you love the place when you use your bank card.

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    Mute Paul Knowles
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    Mar 17th 2016, 1:04 AM

    Done in mountjoy first

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