Pregnant women with concerns over their care are being urged to contact the HSE.
Pregnant women, who are worried about their care at Portiuncula Hospital, are being urged to contact the HSE.
A review is being carried out into the births of nine babies at the hospital over concerns about their delivery.
Six of the babies needed neonatal hypothermic treatment, also referred to as neonatal cooling.
The HSE says the review is an additional measure to make maternity services at the hospital as safe as possible.
Head of medical negligence litigation with Field Fisher legal services, Johan Verbruggen, says consideration should be given to a wider review into maternity services in the country:
HSE West and North West says they have appointed a highly experienced management team to oversee and manage maternity services in Portiuncula University Hospital over the coming months.
This management team, is led by an external consultant obstetrician Dr Mark Skehan and includes a director of midwifery and a senior manager, who will work on site from today.
The team will report directly to the HSE West and North West regional management and will be fully responsible for managing and supporting all aspects of maternity/gynaecology and neonatal services at Potiuncula hospital.
Dr Pat Nash, Regional Clinical Director HSE West and North West says: "I want to firstly apologise to all those women and families for whom this news will be worrying or upsetting. We are making these changes now to ensure that the maternity service at Portiuncula is as safe as possible for mothers and their babies."
"External reviews are currently underway into the delivery of nine babies in PUH. Since 2024, seven babies had hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy, resulting in six of those babies being referred for neonatal hypothermic treatment, also referred to as neonatal cooling.
In 2023, two stillbirths occurred at the hospital and the care provided in relation to these two deliveries is also currently being reviewed externally."
"HIE has many causes and is essentially the reduction in the supply of blood or oxygen to a baby's brain before, during, or even after birth. Therapeutic Hypothermia is now considered the standard treatment for term infants with moderate to severe HIE. This treatment involves cooling a baby quickly after birth and keeping them cool for several days. It slows the brain's metabolism and can prevent further damage. The sooner body cooling starts, the better the outcomes for the baby."
Tony Canavan, Regional Executive Officer HSE West and North West says: "Our biggest concern is for the women who have had, and will have, their babies in Portiuncula Hospital, and for their children. From today, we have appointed a highly experienced team, led by an external consultant obstetrician to manage and lead the maternity service at Portiuncula University Hospital to ensure as safe and high quality services as possible, while we await the outcome of the reviews currently underway."
"We are concerned by these cases and we believe it is important that we review the care provided. The purpose of the reviews currently underway is to examine all of the clinical findings and care provided to our patients. We know this is a distressing time for women whose care is under review and we apologise for any added distress that this news brings. We are providing support to the families involved."
"Each of these reviews are independent and external to PUH and the West North West region. Once completed, we will meet with each family to share the review finding with them."
Dr Cliona Murphy, Clinical Director HSE National Women and Infants Health Programme said, "We have been working closely with the team in HSE West and North West and at Portiuncula University Hospital to put in place more measures to improve safety for women delivering their babies at this unit. During this time all services will continue to operate as normal. Women with appointments should attend as normal and those with understandable concerns should discuss them with their obstetrician or midwife."
"It is important to note that all services at the maternity unit will continue to operate as normal, including outpatient appointments. This team is an additional measure to make the maternity service at PUH as safe as possible.
If women who are attending the unit have questions they can contact the HSE on 1800 807 008 and arrangements will be made for them to receive a follow-up call from the maternity service.
SIPTU To Meet With Members On Proposed Sale Of Bord Na Mona Recycling
Carlow Town Residents Call For More Social Spaces, Street Lights And Improved Accessibility
Trump's Election To Have Impact On EU's Work With Big Tech Companies - Former EU Ombudsman
Longford-Westmeath TD Appointed As Junior Minister
Portiuncula Hospital Review Is Worthless Unless It's Acted On- Maternity Services Expert
Thousands Of Midlands Premises Remain Without Power
Clubhouses Can Provide Severe Weather Refuge - St Brigid's GAA
Government Junior Ministers To Be Announced This Afternoon
Midlands Sees Water Supply Mostly Restored Following Storm Éowyn
AA To Hold Open Information Meeting In Portlaoise
Mothers Due To Give Birth In Portiuncula Hospital Made Aware Of External Review
Midlands 103 Secures New 10 Year Licence
Investigation Launched Into Criminal Damage To Westmeath Accommodation Centre
Dementia Inclusive Training To Be Held In Westmeath
Decline In Number Of Rental Homes In The Midlands Says New Report
Deputy Sorca Clarke Loses Place As Sinn Féin Education Spokesperson
GAA Clubs Across Midlands Helping Locals In Need Following Storm Éowyn
Man In His 80's Dies Following Roscommon Road Collision
Westmeath Holds Top EV Charging Infrastructure In Midlands
€95,000 Worth Of Contraband Seized In The Midlands, Dublin And Rosslare