'Proper and full response' sought from HSE by Mayo Oireachtas member on visiting restrictions in maternity units

A Mayo Oireachtas member has called for a proper and full response from the HSE in respect of visiting restrictions in maternity hospitals.

Senator Lisa Chambers said : "I am sure many people will have listened to the harrowing recounting of events by a man named John on Newstalk, who tweeted the previous day that his wife had suffered a miscarriage. My condolences go out to them and their family.

"John was stopped at the door of the hospital and was not allowed to go in with his wife. I am not sure how he managed to speak on the radio the next day.

"It is a credit to him because that story is so important in the context of getting these restrictions lifted. He was almost in tears on the radio.

"He spoke about how his wife was distraught and devastated, on her own in her hospital bed, while he was trying to console her via WhatsApp. What happened was unacceptable and disgraceful.

"We will be dealing with the impact of the trauma we are causing on people unnecessarily.

"We are still awaiting a proper and full response from the HSE as to who is making the decisions.

"We know that national guidelines are in place.

"The hospitals are clearly just ignoring those guidelines and doing what they please. It does not happen in any other area of healthcare, yet it is somehow okay when it comes to women's healthcare."

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has stated that all State maternity hospitals are expected to follow the same visiting guidelines for patients' partners.

He said a plan is being worked on this week to facilitate emergency visits by partners to maternity units for cases such as miscarriage.