Press Release

23.11.05: Maternity Services Consumer Groups

The HSE in the North East will be setting up maternity services consumer groups in both Louth/Meath and Cavan/Monaghan in the coming months. The HSE is inviting local people to join these consumer groups. It is intended that the consumer group, made up of local people (consumer representatives) will meet with maternity services staff four times a year to share ideas on improving maternity services. These meetings will contribute to the development of more women friendly services that are respectful, personalised and rewarding for both consumers and staff.

Maternity services include the services provided before, during and after childbirth. The HSE is looking for parents, expectant parents and people planning a pregnancy to join the groups. A consumer representative for the maternity services will promote the needs of local people who are using or who will use maternity services. Rosemary O Callaghan, Women's Health Development Officer said 'While maternity services staff are experts in relation to health care, the people who use maternity services are also experts in relation to what they need from these services. Therefore the consumer group will discuss and prioritise the needs and main concerns of consumers and share ideas on improving maternity services.'

A review of maternity services in the region took place in 2001. A Maternity Services Taskforce was set up in 2002 to implement a 10 point plan to further improve maternity services. Consumer representation is one of the final parts of this plan. The HSE believes that consumer representation is one of the best ways of continually improving services from a consumer's point of view.

Rosemary O Callaghan has advised that 'All interested people will be invited to an information meeting within the coming months'. She went on to say that 'If a person cannot attend information meetings their views still matter to us and the consumer group will contact parents about their views so that the group know the reality of current services.'

People interested in getting involved in the maternity services consumer groups or looking for additional information should contact 1850 24 1850.