New Maternity Specific Anaesthetic Clinic commences at Sligo University Hospital

Sligo Maternity Services in Collaboration with the Sligo University Hospital (SUH) Anaesthetic Department have commenced a new maternity specific anaesthetic clinic. 

The Anaesthetic Pre Assessment Clinic, which commenced on May 15th 2025, will see 120 antenatal patients per year. It is also a place for post-natal patients to come and discuss their anaesthetic experience should they have any questions or concerns. The benefits of this clinic include more consistent information being given to patients, with clear documented instructions, and multidisciplinary plans for labour and theatre safe plans with an Obstetric. This clinic will also help promote safety, quality of care and improve patient satisfaction.

Before this high risk pregnant women that required antenatal anaesthetic review were referred to the General Pre Assessment Clinic (PAC). PAC is the preassessment clinic in the hospital for preoperative assessment of surgical patients.  

The Anaesthetic Pre Assessment Clinic is essentially a specialised service for pregnant women who may require anaesthetic care during pregnancy due to pre-existing medical conditions, pregnancy related complications or anaesthetic issues. The clinic is led by two consultant anaesthetists in collaboration with Obstetricians and Midwives and will run on alternate Wednesdays. The primary aim is to provide a woman centred care, assess anaesthetic risk, make a plan for safe anaesthetic care to ensure a safe, well planned and informed care for mums and babies. 

Dr. Joey Coyne, Consultant Anaesthetist, spearheaded the project along with Jualiana Henry, Director of Midwifery at SUH. Dr Coyne said “It took over a year of planning and meetings to get it set up. The lightbulb moment was when I thought it better to try and co-locate with obstetrics to run alongside the Antenatal clinic.

“There are specific criteria that obstetricians use to refer patients to the clinic - for example, significant medical problems, history of anaesthetic issues, or even as simple as wanting to discuss pain relief options in labour.”

“The Sligo Obstetric Anaesthesia clinic has been a wonderful new service for maternity services in the North West. It allows an opportunity for consultant anaesthetist input into planning for delivery. 

“Personalising care, allows informed decision making, and identifying higher risk pregnancies. This will contribute to a safer birthing experience in Sligo.”