There are calls for the controversial report on maternity services at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe to be scrapped, following the resignation of the chairman of the West Northwest Hospitals Group over concerns about the report.
The group’s chairman Noel Daly stepped down on Wednesday evening after it emerged he was a shareholder in the private firm that carried out the review of maternity hospitals including Portiuncula.
The report led to fears last month that the Ballinasloe unit was being considered for closure by the HSE.
In a statement, Mr Daly said he was stepping down as he did not want his personal and professional reputation, or that of the hospital group, to be compromised.
Deputy Denis Naughten said the report should now be scrapped as it had “serious questions hanging over it”.
“This report was flawed right from its inception, and cannot in any guise form part of any further consideration of the future of maternity services at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe,” said Deputy Naughten.
“This report has serious questions hanging over it and I have previously stated that I cannot understand how the consultants could produce a report that comes out so negatively considering that it is the safest hospital, one of the most efficient, and the second biggest in the hospital group.”
