The rotunda “very much regrets” the upheaval caused by a television series after the criticisms of the Taoiseach

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Updated 23 minutes ago

HOSPITAL DE LA ROTUNDA has said it deeply regrets any upset or anxiety caused by the airing of the new series filmed in the hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, a hospital spokesperson added that in making their final decision to proceed with Round 3, Rotunda management carefully considered allowing controlled access to one of the two team members. shooting, against the backdrop of a very different infection control decision from potentially allowing widespread access to hundreds of partners every day.

RT confirmed this morning that it will air the rest of the documentary series as scheduled, despite criticism following the airing of the first episode this week.

The Rotunda spokesperson said the hospital was keenly aware of the strong positive response (including from very senior politicians) to the documentary series RT Investigates: Inside Irelands Covid Battle which aired in July 2020.

The documentary was filmed at the height of the pandemic inside the intensive care unit at St James’s Hospital, when even more restrictive conditions than those ever applied to the rotunda were in place, said the spokesperson.

They added that the Rotunda management team was reassured to note that some of the same production staff involved in this much-loved documentary were involved in the third series of The Rotunda.

It was also noted by the direction of the Rotonde that the guidelines for access to the hospital have always been significantly less restrictive than those which applied to general acute care hospitals, and this distinction still applies today. , the Rotunda still having much easier access for its patients and partners. than acute general hospitals, they said.

The spokesperson added:

La Rotonde very much regrets any upheaval or anxiety that the broadcast of this important documentary has caused, because none was planned.

La Rotonde will continue to support and care for its patients and staff to the best of their ability, both in good times and in difficult conditions. We will continue, in good faith, to always do our best for our patients and families.

Criticism of the government

This afternoon, the Taoiseach Michel Martin and the Minister of Health Stephen Donnelly issued scathing criticisms of the decision of the management of the Rotunda hospital to allow the shooting of a television series at the height of the Covid restrictions .

The Taoiseach said he didn’t think the production was appropriate.

I don’t think it’s appropriate that if partners were denied access to a TV crew, he said in response to a question from the Journal during a press event to mark the end of his reflection on the party, to be held in Co Cavan. .

Martin said there needs to be consistency around the rules and he can understand the public’s annoyance and anger with the program.

He added that he was not aware of the decision-making process surrounding the production or the setting that allowed filming to continue.

However, he said we cannot have one set of guidelines for partners and another set of guidelines for the media when we talk about Covid-19.

Minister Donnelly has said he believes the master of the Rotonde Hospital should answer questions relating to critics of the series.

Also speaking to reporters during the reflection, he agreed that Teacher should sort out the problem:

I think we certainly deserve an explanation and a statement from the Rotunda.

Fianna Fil Senator Lisa Chambers said she was disgusted to see the show aired when the women were left alone and their partners had to wait in parking lots.

She said it was not good for the program to continue.

RT should have known better, she said, adding that to say people are angry is an understatement.

When asked for a response to comments from the Taoiseach and health ministers this afternoon, a spokesperson for RT said: We have no comments to make.

Public anger

After the first episode aired on RT Two on Wednesday night, new parents and expectant parents expressed their anger that the hospital allowed the team to film while access for partners of pregnant women was restricted.

The show, now in its third season, follows the pregnancy journeys of women and couples who frequent the hospital.

The final season of the series was filmed from November 2020 to September 2021.

Filming began before Ireland began its Covid vaccination program.

In his statement today, a spokesperson for the Rotonde said: During the period from November 2020 to September 2021, the majority of filming took place remotely thanks to pre-installed fixed cameras and interviews were carried out. been conducted off-site.

On several occasions, a minimum number of crews (one or two at the most at a time) were present on site in the main hospital building.

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The rotunda insisted that all necessary infection control measures were taken during filming and that maximum Covid-19 discipline was observed at all times.

Earlier today, an RT spokesperson has yet to receive any official complaints about the show. However, he received six emails offering negative comments.

After the first episode, maternity care activists said he had failed to adequately describe the impact of Covid restrictions on people who gave birth in a hospital and their partners during the pandemic.

During a chat on RTs Liveline yesterday, Linda Kelly, who is part of the #BetterMaternityCare campaign, told host Joe Duffy that she was shocked the restrictions were not addressed on the show.

If they had actually documented what it was like to be pregnant and give birth during Covid, you might be able to figure it out, but they didn’t at all, she said.

Both RT and La Rotonde yesterday defended the decision to film in the hospital during the pandemic.

The broadcaster said it has reduced hospital attendance to an absolute minimum, with many filming taking place off-site.

– Additional reporting by Daragh Brophy and Hayley Halpin

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