The Sisters Of Charity Announce They’ll Have “No Involvement” In The National Maternity Hospital

The Religious Sisters of Charity have announced that they will end all involvement with the St Vincent’s Hospital Group, including the National Maternity Hospital, following months of controversy.

Members of the public were unhappy that the maternity hospital lay in the hands of a religious group with such a troubled past, and were concerned that the nuns’ religious beliefs would impact on the quality of healthcare given to expectant mothers and infants.

Earlier this month, over 1,500 people marched from the Garden of Remembrance to Merrion Square in protest against the religious order, while former Holles Street master, Dr Peter Boylan, resigned from the hospital’s board of management.

Sister Mary Christian, Congregational Leader of the Religious Sisters of Charity, announced in a statement today that, “The Religious Sisters of Charity will end our involvement in St Vincent’s Healthcare Group and will not be involved in the ownership or management of the new National Maternity Hospital.”

Ownership of the hospital will be transferred to a new charitable company called St. Vincents, and the nuns will no longer have a say in the running of healthcare onsite. Going forward, the Sisters of Charity won’t be able to appoint directors to the Board, and the two sisters who are currently on the Board will resign with immediate effect.

Sr Mary Christian added that existing codes governing medical ethics at the hospital will be amended and replaced to reflect compliance with national and international guidelines, as well as the laws of Ireland.