A group of mothers and mothers-to-be is calling on the Government to protect access to private maternity care, saying women have been largely excluded from the debate over proposed changes to maternity services.
The campaign group, Our Maternity Choice Ireland, has been formed in response to plans under Sláintecare that could see private maternity care phased out of public hospitals. The group argues that women should continue to have a choice in how and where they receive their maternity care and says the issue has not been properly discussed with the public.
A petition calling on the Health Minister to protect private maternity care has already gathered thousands of signatures.
Sarah from Our Maternity Choice Ireland joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about all of this.