Women have their say: Public care must improve ‘dramatically’ before private is phased out (opens original article in a new tab)

The Rotunda Hospital reversed its decision to allow public-only contract consultants to treat patients privately on site, following public and political pressure. Patients expressed varied opinions on the quality of public maternity care, with some advocating for continued private options.

• The Rotunda Hospital reversed its decision to allow public-only contract consultants to treat patients privately on site.
• Public-only contracts, introduced in 2023, require consultants to do all private work outside of public hospital hours.
• Patients shared mixed experiences with public maternity care, with some praising its quality and others criticizing lack of continuity and staff availability.