Maternity ward at Kilkenny hospital must lift visiting restrictions today: Minister

St Luke’s General Hospital in Kilkenny must comply with Health Service Executive (HSE) directives on maternity – starting from today, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has warned.

The Kilkenny hospital is just one of three remaining in the State where the partners of women in maternity wards are subject to strict visiting restrictions.

Last month Minister Donnelly instructed all 19 maternity hospitals in Ireland to lift restrictions allowing visits for a minimum 30 minutes per day throughout labour, allowing partners attend the 20-week scan and allow visits during neonatal intensive care.

It was revealed in the Oireachtas yesterday that St Luke’s, along with South Tipperary General Hospital and Wexford General Hospital still had visiting restrictions in place.

Speaking on Newstalk’s Hard Shoulder programme, Minister Donnelly said: “There are 19 maternity units around the country. 16 of them were reporting as fully compliant [last week].

“Three of them said they weren’t and they gave an undertaking that by today – and the HSE are checking, by today, the four criteria would be in place.

“The plan is in the coming weeks emergency visits will be facilitated,” the minister added.