Health care in Ireland: past and present

March-MotherandChildBooklet

Our Research Fellow Dr Sean Lucey spoke to journalist David Lynch about the parallels between health care provision for mothers and children in 1950s Ireland and today. He also makes reference to the situation in Belfast at that time. “Belfast’s medical leaders such as RJ Johnstone in the 1930s – MP in the Northern Irish parliament and a professor in Queen’s medical school – resisted attempts at expanded local authority in maternity and child welfare. This was largely out of a desire to protect the expanding voluntary hospital sector, which included the opening of the new Royal Maternity Hospital in 1933.” Click here to read about ‘The divisive legacy of free healthcare in Ireland’ from the Medical Independent.