The true cost to the State of maternity services in Ireland

Whelan, Shane; Hally, Maeve; Gaughan, C.

The true cost to the State of maternity services in Ireland

Files

The-True-Cost-to-the-State-of-Maternity-Services-in-Ireland.pdf(150.73 KB)

Published Version

Date

2021-01

Authors

Whelan, Shane

Hally, Maeve

Gaughan, C.

Publisher

Irish Medical Organisation

Abstract

Accounting for the cost of delivery of maternity services in Ireland ignores the cost of claims settlements caused by negligence in delivery. We show that the true cost of maternity services is more than double the generally reported cost when proper account is taken of the associated cost of maternity claims. There must come a tipping point, if it is not already exceeded, when the sums paid out by way of settlements for mismanagement of maternity services become larger than the additional costs of operating a sound service.

Keywords

Cost , Maternity services , Negligence

Citation

Whelan, S., Hally, M. and Gaughan, C. (2021) 'The true cost to the State of maternity services in Ireland', Irish Medical Journal, 114(1), P241 (6pp). Available at: http://www.imj.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/The-True-Cost-to-the-State-of-Maternity-Services-in-Ireland.pdf (Accessed: 28 January 2022)