A controversial review of maternity services in the west and north-west has been suspended, according to the local hospital group.
The West/North West Hospitals Group says consultation on the future of maternity services in the regions will now be subsumed into a national review of maternity services currently underway.
The decision follows the resignation of group chairman Noel Daly earlier this month after it emerged that he had a 50 per cent stake in a consultancy which carried out a review of maternity services.
The contract was not put out to tender.
The review, which suggested the closure of up to four maternity units, has been heavily criticised by Opposition politicians.
Group chief executive Bill Maher said it was always the intention that the local review would feed into the national review of maternity services, led by the Department of Health with input from the HSE.
“We have advised the Department of Health and the HSE that our Group will assist the national maternity review in whatever way we can.”
