In an attempt to understand how change can occur in health services this article focuses on two recent developments in Ireland which came about as a result of an unexpected event and a consequent shift in policy which as Hinrichs (2001) and Castles (2010) suggest can be slow to move. Drawing on...

The objective of this article is to explore recent and proposed future developments in maternity service provision in Ireland in the context of health policy reform. Ireland is experiencing an unprecedented demand for maternity services with in excess of 75,000 births in 2009, the highest since...