Message from our Master
Professor Michael O'Connell
Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
The Coombe Hospital has been offering care to women and newborns for the past 197 years, furtherance to this legacy it is my great privilege as the 31st Master of The Coombe Hospital to introduce the 2023 Annual Report.
Welcome to
The Coombe Hospital
Professor Michael O'Connell
As Master, I continue to be indebted to the Executive Management Team (Anna Deasy, Patrick Donohue, Melissa Lawlor, Ann MacIntyre, John Robinson, Professor Martin White and Annemarie Waldron) for all they contribute and their dedication to living our purpose of providing specialist care for women and newborns putting their needs at the heart of everything we do.
I am grateful for the support of the Board and in particular to the Chair, Mary Donovan.
In 2023, 6,836 women gave birth to babies weighing ≥ 500 grams.
The corrected perinatal mortality rate was 4.0 per 1,000 total births.
We provided care for 136 liveborn babies weighing ≤ 1,500 grams who were reported to the Vermont Oxford Network (VON).
At a Glance
2023 In Review
In 2023, we remained the largest provider of benign gynaecology services in Ireland, performing 6,042 gynaecological surgical procedures.
In addition, in 2023 there was a 47% increase in attendances at the Outpatient Hysteroscopy Clinic against 2022, a doubling of numbers seen in the Enhanced Endometriosis Clinic with an additional 861 women seen in the Colposcopy Clinic.
Gynaecology waiting list management was prioritised, and to this end The Coombe Hospital was the best performing hospital in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group (DMHG).
New Service Initiatives in 2023
Specialist Gynaecology Clinic
A specialist Gynaecology Clinic caring for women with fibroids was established by Dr Workineh Tadesse.
This clinic occurs once per month and over 100 women have engaged with this service since its establishment.
I am indebted to Dr Niall McEniff who provides the embolisation service for the Fibroid Clinic.
Adolescent Gynaecology Clinic
Dr Niamh Murphy established a specialist Adolescent Gynaecology Clinic at The Coombe Hospital in January 2023. The clinic accepts referrals nationally as The Coombe Hospital is one of only three hospitals with a dedicated Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology (PAG) service.
The PAG team (Consultant and SpR) at The Coombe Hospital also attend the PAG clinic in Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Temple Street, where care is offered to younger patients.
In the first year of service, 165 new referrals were seen in the clinic and there were 140 return visits.
Patients from the age of 12 years and above attended the clinic at The Coombe Hospital, with admission for theatre where required from the age of 15 years and above also provided in The Coombe Hospital.
In 2023, the PAG service admitted 48 patients for a surgical procedure, 45 of whom were admitted as day cases. The establishment of this clinic fulfils our ambition to provide care from cradle to grave for women and newborns.
Fetal Surgical Clinic
Professor Mairead Kennelly established a tertiary referral Fetal Surgical Clinic to offer multidisciplinary assessment, counselling and discussion of surgical and post-operative care for select fetal anomalies.
The service is provided by Professor Kennelly (Fetal Medicine Specialist), Mr Brian Sweeney (Paediatric Surgeon CHI), Dr John Kelleher (Consultant Neonatologist) and Felicity Doddy (Prenatal Diagnosis Coordinator).
The Daisy Clinic
The Daisy Clinic was established to provide antenatal and postnatal care to homeless pregnant women, women who are at risk of homelessness, women living in emergency accommodation and women living in direct provision.
This is a joint midwifery and medical social worker clinic with the service provided by a dedicated Clinical Midwife Manager (CMM2) and a social inclusion medical social worker.
In the six months after commencement in June 2023, 51 women were referred to the Daisy Clinic.
The Daisy Clinic
The Daisy Clinic was established to provide antenatal and postnatal care to homeless pregnant women, women who are at risk of homelessness, women living in emergency accommodation and women living in direct provision.
This is a joint midwifery and medical social worker clinic with the service provided by a dedicated Clinical Midwife Manager (CMM2) and a social inclusion medical social worker.
In the six months after commencement in June 2023, 51 women were referred to the Daisy Clinic.
Home Birth Service
The Coombe Hospital/HSE Integrated Home Birth Service commenced in October 2023 as the governance was transferred from the HSE to The Coombe Hospital.
This service is provided for women who chose a home birth, who fulfil agreed safety criteria, by midwives who are self-employed with the HSE.
The service is facilitated by Paula Barry, Designated Midwifery Officer (DMO).
Bayley Assessment Clinic
The Bayley Assessment Clinic commenced in 2023.
Detailed developmental assessments of high-risk extreme preterm infants and/or those infants with a history of neonatal encephalopathy are performed in this clinic.
The assessments are performed by either Dr John Kelleher (Consultant Neonatologist) or Dr Sara Kift (Occupational Therapist).
The Bayley assessment is a target for performance at approximately 24 months of age, corrected for prematurity. The aim is to give parents results and feedback the day of the clinic, followed by a formal report which is sent to parents and to healthcare professionals.
One pathway for all unscheduled care of women
During the COVID-19 pandemic the Naas Antenatal Clinic was temporarily transferred to The Coombe Hospital.
The Coombe Midland Antenatal Clinic was established in Vista Primary Care in Naas in Q4 2023.
The Emergency Assessment Centre (EAC) which is an amalgamation of the Assessment Unit (AU) attached to the Delivery Suite, and the Emergency Room (ER) in OPD, was opened in September 2023.
This development ensures one pathway for all unscheduled care of women presenting at The Coombe Hospital.
Recruiting midwives and nurses
All these initiatives occurred despite significant challenges in recruiting midwives and nurses.
At the beginning of 2023 the hospital was 50 WTEs (not counting statutory leaves) short in midwifery and nursing and thanks to the amazing work of Ann MacIntyre (Director of Midwifery and Nursing) and her team, aided by the national Ministerial intervention whereby newly qualified midwives and nurses were offered permanent contracts, we ended the year with a commitment to fill almost all these vacancies by the end of the first quarter of 2024.
National Cervical Screening Laboratory (NCSL)
The Coombe Hospital National Cervical Screening Laboratory (NCSL) recommenced screening programme samples in October 2023, following reinstatement of accreditation.
I wish to thank Dr Cillian DeGascun Interim Director, for his leadership during this difficult time. Cillian due to other commitments left the Interim Director role in October. Dr Corrina Wright successfully interviewed for the Director’s role and as Master I will undertake the Interim Director role until Corrina takes up her post. Other appointments to the service included a Laboratory Manager and a Quality Manager.
European Board College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Accreditation (EBCOG)
In January 2023, The Coombe Hospital became the first hospital in Ireland to be accredited by the European Board College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
(EBCOG) for Maternal-Fetal Medicine training. This was a great achievement and aligns to our EBCOG accreditation for General Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Our EBCOG accredited training programme in partnership with the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group (DMHG) commenced with trainees rotating between The Coombe Hospital, Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise, Tallaght University Hospital and St James’s Hospital. This programme aims to provide a structured programme for those not on the Higher Specialist Training Programme.
Choose The Right Care For You
Our clinics offer tailored care for every stage of a woman’s life, from family planning and maternity to menopause and beyond. Whether you choose Public, Semi-Private, or Private services, we are here to provide expert, compassionate care that supports your health and well-being every step of the way.
Public Clinic
If you are living and working in Ireland and have the PRSI contributions or you have a medical card you can access free maternity and newborn care.
Semi Private Clinic
The semi-private clinic is a fee based option. Most women who choose this clinic use private health insurance to cover costs. .
Private Clinic
There are a number of consultant obstetricians offering services through our private clinic. Antenatal care fees vary between consultants..
Patient Experience
Every patient’s path to diagnosis and treatment is individual. No matter your specific journey, we believe in empowering you to take an active role in your healthcare.
Departments & Services
Help & Support
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Appointments:
All appointments can be directed through Hospital reception: 01 408 5200, 24 hours a day -
Health Insurance:
We operate a direct payment scheme with VHI, Laya Healthcare, Irish Life Health, Garda Medical Aid, ESB, Medical Provident Fund, and Prison Officers Medical Aid. If you are covered by any of these insurers, the relevant insurance forms are signed electronically on your admission to hospital.
Fees:
For more information on Fees - visit our Hospital Charges page -
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The Resource Page:
Browse our collection of patient resources, brochures, and information leaflets—all in one place. Downloadable and easy to access, these documents cover everything from appointments and procedures to maternity, newborn care, and more.
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Tel: 01 408 5200
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Location:
Cork St, Dublin, D08 XW7X