Hospitals and faith

Sir, – The National Maternity Hospital was described by Marie O’Connor (Letters, August 13th) as a “private Catholic entity”. This is completely untrue. It is and has always been an independent non-denominational voluntary hospital.

Your correspondent also states that it is not known whether the new National Maternity Hospital at Elm Park will have to adhere to the ethos of a particular religious congregation. The 2016 Mulvey agreement on the move of the NMH to St Vincent’s Hospital campus guarantees the new hospital clinical and operational independence in the provision of maternity, gynaecology, obstetrics and neonatal services “without religious, ethnic or other distinction”. The hospital provides all services available under law and will continue to do so. – Yours, etc,

NICHOLAS KEARNS,

Deputy Chairman,

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National Maternity Hospital,

Dublin 2.